“In this moving debut collection, restaurateur Alarnab writes plaintively of migrating from Syria … His unvarnished descriptions of the immigrant experience (‘We were cold, exhausted, afraid of what came next’)—are movingly rendered and segue smoothly into recipes where generosity is the watchword … Instructions are clear and thoughtful throughout, but it’s the author’s personal experiences that make this heartfelt cookbook shine.”

– — Publishers Weekly

“In July 2015, restaurateur Alarnab bade farewell to his family and fled his beloved Damascus … Damascene cuisine will seem familiar to anyone experienced in Middle Eastern cooking, but the particular flavors that infuse Alarnab’s hummus, baba ganoush, fattoush salad, falafel, kuftah, tabbouleh, kibbeh, and much more reflect his own take on Syrian traditions … Recipes are clear, and many questions may be answered by the color photographs. But the beating heart of this cookbook is the saga of Alarnab’s escape … Anyone who wants to know what it means to be a refugee will be staggered by Alarnab’s harrowing account.”

– — Booklist

“In 2015, chef and restaurateur Alarnab fled his home in war-torn Syria and began his perilous journey to the UK. Like many refugees, he worked a variety of jobs before he began cooking pop-up dinners for UNICEF, catering, and ultimately opening a restaurant and reuniting with his family. This narrative is often raw and vivid and may seem out of place in a cookbook, but Alarnab’s food carried him on his journey, created his new livelihood, and connected him to the love of his home, making his powerful story a natural pairing with his recipes. The dishes and the narrative give a window into the culture and people of Damascus and how Alarnab maintains a connection with his homeland. The recipes, which have traditional roots but are adapted for the modern home kitchen, rely on building a solid pantry of ingredients and spices to deliver big flavors. The book’s design and illustrations evoke warmth, paired with appealing food styling and photos of Alarnab in his kitchen. VERDICT: Recipes that spotlight particular ingredients with vibrant tastes anchor this deeply personal refugee story and will remind readers of the power that food has to bring people together and help them heal.”

“The dishes and the narrative give a window into the culture and people of Damascus and how Alarnab maintains a connection with his homeland. The book’s design and illustrations evoke warmth, paired with appealing food styling and photos of Alarnab in his kitchen. VERDICT Recipes that spotlight particular ingredients with vibrant tastes anchor this deeply personal refugee story and will remind readers of the power that food has to bring people together and help them heal.”

– — Library Journal