I always hoped to make it to Syria, to see Palmyra and the famous souk in Aleppo, and best of all, to taste the food. Thanks to Mayada, I get to cook the legendarily delicious food myself, right at home. This book holds a beautiful and evocative story, and by buying a copy you’re supporting Mayada’s family and an organization committed to helping many more.
As a wife, mother, and chef, I connected deeply to this beautiful book and the stories and recipes that came from a place of struggle and love. The Bread and Salt Between Us does a wonderful job paying tribute to Mayada’s heritage with recipes that we all want to eat! Mayada’s food is the kind that brings people together and has the power to heal.
How exciting it is to step into Mayada’s fragrant, enchanting kitchen in this special book, where we get an up-close and personal lesson in making her luscious Syrian recipes. Mayada is the kind of cook who inspires trust. She reflects the hospitable, generous soul of the Middle East, showing us that everything we make tastes better when shared with those we welcome to our tables. The inspiring journey of her family in this book is a story of strength, love, and hope—it is stirred beautifully into every recipe, and we are grateful for every taste.
Mayada’s story is one of an immigrant overcoming adversity through perseverance and her desire to build and connect with her community through her food. This is a cookbook that celebrates Syrian food and the kindness of the human heart.
The Bread and Salt Between Us is a powerful story of survival and reincarnation. Most importantly, the collective stories bind us all together through food and memories.
A quietly powerful reflection on how food can bring families together, Mayada’s book honors the everyday rhythms of the immigrant experience. Fatayer, mulukhiyah, tabbouleh—these recipes show why Syrian cuisine should have a place at everyone’s table.
In our current political and cultural climate, it’s commendable to see someone using her passion for food to step beyond boundaries. Food has always been a conduit for a deeper understanding of other cultures, and Mayada shows a picture of love and warmth through her delicious recipes.
Mayada Anjari’s book is a beautiful testimony to the rich—and often overlooked—cultural contributions that displaced people bring to their country of adoption. More than just a collection of recipes, this book is a cultural artifact that celebrates the power of food to transcend the hardships of refugee life.
This is a book to cook from and to learn from, a beautiful invitation to engage with Syrian home cooking. In warm and graceful writing, Jennifer Sit sets forth Mayada Anjari’s very accessible recipes, cooking wisdom, and story of her family’s journey from Syria to America. Bravo!
This beautiful book testifies to the power of food to heal and connect. By cooking for others, Mayada keeps her family traditions intact; by sharing her recipes and stories, she communicates the centrality of food in Syrian culture. The Bread and Salt Between Us is both a delicious introduction to Syrian food and a moving portrait of resilience. It belongs in every library and kitchen.
09/15/2018
Forced to flee the violence and unrest in Syria with her husband and four children, Anjari entered the United States with the help of the United Nations and a dedicated church congregation. With cookbook author and editor Sit, Anjari shares wonderful recipes and family favorites from her home country, as well as brief stories about her family, her immigration journey, and the sentiments and traditions behind the dishes. The approachable recipes feature fresh ingredients, with chicken and vegetable meals being the most prevalent, in addition to the sweets section. Intermediate home cooks will likely be right at home with the plans, which also work well for groups. The work briefly addresses the harsh realities of refugees attempting to or entering the United States, but more than anything, Anjari and Sit focus on the commonalities that bind us, the kindness of strangers, and the power of building relationships and celebrating culture through food. VERDICT A thoughtful and attractive work. Highly recommended for medium and large collections.—Emily Patti, Racine P.L., WI
