The Menu
Meet Yotam
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For chef, writer, and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi, food is about more than what we eat. It is about joy, pleasure, and surprise. It is about a sense of place
and home. It is about commonality, an act which brings people together. The popular chef has stated, “It’s tragic that we are so good at adapting ourselves to different cuisines and enjoy being super international, yet we are not able to apply the same level of tolerance to the actual people that cook them.” Simply put, this philosopher of the kitchen is passionate about making people happy through food full of harmonious contradictions. Ottolenghi is widely beloved for his beautiful, inspirational, and award-winning cookbooks, yet he had an unlikely beginning. In 1997, Ottolenghi completed a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in comparative literature at Tel Aviv University; his thesis was on the philosophy of the photographic image. That same year, he moved to Amsterdam, where he worked at a Dutch-Jewish weekly and considered getting his doctorate at Yale. Instead, and against the advice of his father, family and friends, he moved to London to study French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu. Soon, Ottolenghi found work as a pastry chef, and eventually met the Palestinian chef Sami Tamimi. |
Meet the Host
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Kate Zaidan is the second generation owner / operator of Dean's Mediterranean Imports in Cincinnati, OH. Her father, Dean, started the store in 1986, after immigrating to Cincinnati from his home country of Lebanon. Dean's Mediterranean is a treasure trove of international ingredients, fresh prepared Lebanese specialties, nuts, spices and gourmet groceries. After a decade spent working on environmental and social justice causes, Kate returned to the store and city where she grew up. She inherited her father's passion for food and cooking, and loves suggesting recipes and spice blends to her customers. Her greatest joys are when customers proclaim "I've been looking for this all over the city!". Kate is also the founder of Stir! Sharing Food, Sharing Culture, a project that works to connect cultures through food via classes, dinners, and a Chef-in-Residence program. She lives above the store with her wife Karen and is a dedicated mentor to youth in Over the Rhine.
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Presented By
Meet Our Partners
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Meet Our Culinary Partners
Chef Fahri Ozdil of Cafe Mediterranean
Chef David Cook of Daveed's Catering & Culinary Kitchen
Chef Drew Brown of The J Cafe at the Mayerson JCC
Chef Madline Ndambakuwa of The Welcome Project Kitchen
Chef Vik Silberberg of ZULA Restaurant & Wine Bar
Chef David Cook of Daveed's Catering & Culinary Kitchen
Chef Drew Brown of The J Cafe at the Mayerson JCC
Chef Madline Ndambakuwa of The Welcome Project Kitchen
Chef Vik Silberberg of ZULA Restaurant & Wine Bar
Download the Information Packet |
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