Joudie Kalla facts for kids
Joudie Kalla is a famous chef and writer from Palestine and Britain. She loves to share Palestinian food with the world. She has written two award-winning cookbooks. These books are called Palestine on a Plate (from 2016) and Baladi (from 2018). Her work has been shown in big newspapers and TV channels like The New York Times and The Guardian.
Contents
Joudie Kalla's Early Life and Training
Joudie Kalla was born in London. Her parents came from Palestine. She is one of five children in her family. Her family has roots in many Palestinian cities. These include Nazareth, Ramallah, Jaffa, Lydda, Safed, and Bethlehem. Her grandparents had to leave their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. They moved to Syria for safety.
Education and Cooking Journey
Joudie Kalla went to Kingston University. There, she studied Art History, Architecture, and Design. Later, she went to the Sorbonne in Paris. She studied French Culture and Civilization there.
After her studies, she trained at Leiths School of Food and Wine in London. This is a well-known cooking school. She then worked in several famous London restaurants. Some of these included places run by Gordon Ramsay. Joudie says her Palestinian upbringing was her biggest inspiration. Her family's stories and cooking experiences made her want to explore traditional Palestinian food.
Sharing Palestinian Culture Through Food
Joudie Kalla started her own catering business. From 2010 to 2013, she owned a deli in London. It was called Baity Kitchen. "Baity" means "My House" in Arabic.
After her deli, Joudie hosted special Palestinian supper clubs. These were held at restaurants in London. She explained that these clubs help her share her culture. They also give a voice to other Palestinians living in London. The Guardian newspaper has also featured Joudie Kalla as a guest cook.
Joudie Kalla's Cookbooks
Joudie Kalla's first cookbook came out in 2016. It was called Palestine on a Plate: Memories from My Mother’s Kitchen. The New York Times recommended this book. It also won the "Best Arab Cuisine Book" award in 2016. The Independent newspaper called it a "Best Buy of 2016" among cookbooks.
Palestine on a Plate
Palestine on a Plate focuses on dishes from the region. Joudie got the recipes from her mother, father, and grandmother. One writer said the book was "equal parts cookbook, history and cri de coeur." This means it's not just recipes. It also shares history and strong feelings. Joudie says in the book that "Palestinian food is an identity." This shows how important food is to culture.
Baladi: A Celebration of Food from Land and Sea
Joudie Kalla's second cookbook was released in 2018. It is called Baladi: A Celebration of Food from Land and Sea. Famous chef Nigella Lawson praised it. It also won a Times Food Book of the Year award in 2018. The word "Baladi" means "my land" or "my country." It refers to Palestine. Joudie explained that she collected recipes and pictures for Baladi from her social media followers.
Blending Flavors
Even though her cookbooks focus on Palestinian food, some recipes have British influences. For example, her za’tar scones mix Palestinian flavors with a British classic. She also adds new ingredients like chocolate to some dishes. Joudie has said that some recipes were created when she ran her restaurant and supper clubs. She improvised them to create new and exciting dishes.
