Durkhanai Ayubi facts for kids
Durkhanai Ayubi (born 1985) is an Afghan food expert. She is also a restaurant owner and a prize-winning cookbook author. Durkhanai lives in Adelaide, Australia. She is famous for her cookbook, Parwana. This book shares traditional Afghan family recipes. Many of these recipes are cooked at her family's restaurant, also called Parwana.
In her book, Ayubi explores the history of Afghanistan. She shows how different ideas and conflicts led to many Afghans leaving their homes. Her own family was among them. Since 2018, she has been part of the Atlantic Fellows program. This group works to solve big problems around the world. In 2022, Ayubi won a "40 under 40" Social Impact Award. This award celebrates young business leaders in South Australia.
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Durkhanai Ayubi: Early Life and Family
Durkhanai Ayubi was born in 1985 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her parents are Zelmai and Farida Ayubi. She is one of five daughters.
When Durkhanai was young, the Soviet-Afghan War forced her family to leave Afghanistan. They moved to Australia in 1987. They first lived in Melbourne before settling in Adelaide in 1989.
Her Family's Restaurants
In 2009, Durkhanai's family opened their first restaurant in Adelaide. They named it Parwana. This restaurant later inspired her famous cookbook.
In 2012, the family visited Afghanistan for the first time since they left. This trip gave them new ideas. In 2014, they opened a second restaurant called Kutchi Deli Parwana. This restaurant serves street food, like what they saw in Afghanistan.
Durkhanai's mother is related to Sayd Majrouh (1928-1988). He was a famous Afghan philosopher, poet, and journalist. He was known for his epic poem, Ego-Monstre. He also worked to understand the effects of the Soviet War.
Working for Social Fairness
In 2018, Durkhanai Ayubi became a Senior Fellow. This is a special role in the UK-based Atlantic Fellows program. She often speaks about social fairness. In 2021, she was a main speaker at an event in Melbourne. She has also written about food for newspapers like The Telegraph.
Her Cookbook: Parwana
Durkhanai Ayubi released her cookbook, Parwana: Recipes and Stories from an Afghan Kitchen, in September 2020. The book has about 100 recipes. Many of these recipes come from her family, especially her mother, Farida Ayubi.
Along with the recipes, Durkhanai shares stories about Afghan history and culture. Parwana was published by Interlink Publishing. This company creates books about cultures from around the world.
In 2021, The Guardian newspaper shared recipes from Parwana. They also told the story of Durkhanai and her mother. The Harvard Bookstore said Parwana was more than just a cookbook. They called it a "culinary family history." Durkhanai has also been interviewed on many podcasts and radio shows, including the BBC.
Awards and Recognition
Durkhanai Ayubi's book Parwana received many great reviews. In 2021, it won the Art of Eating Prize for the best food book of the year. It also won the Guild of Food Writers award for the best international cookbook. She was nominated for another award, the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Award.
Famous people have praised Durkhanai and her book. These include British food writer Nigella Lawson and Nobel Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai.
In 2022, Ayubi won a "40 under 40" award. This award is for young business leaders in South Australia. It recognized her work helping people who have moved to Australia. She also raised over $180,000 to help Afghans. This money went to people affected by the changes in Afghanistan in 2021. Durkhanai has said she wants to help people understand Afghan culture. She also wants to promote fairness for everyone.
