About this item
New Cookbook from Former 'Miss Lebanon' Explores Modern Middle Eastern Cooking The Middle East cradles an ancient cuisine - one of the oldest in the world. Despite its pedigree, conflict in the region has largely kept it under wraps to a wider audience. Hummus, tabbouleh, and stuffed vine leaves now receive global recognition, but there still exists this vast and distinct culinary heritage that remains unexplored: wholesome stews, exotic casseroles and a range of home cooking which revolves around humble, yet delicious vegetables and grains. It is these that routinely welcome home hungry school children and soothe the appetites of tired workers. They too must be shared with the world. For the past five years, Lebanese-American Bethany Kehdy has sought to demystify Middle Eastern food through her blog DirtyKitchenSecrets.
About the Author
Bethany Kehdy is a Lebanese-American food explorer most notably known by her popular Middle Eastern food blog, Dirty Kitchen Secrets. Born in Houston, Texas to an American mother and a Lebanese father, Bethany grew up in Lebanon during the country's most volatile civil war years.
To shelter from the war, her family retreated to the mountains of Lebanon where her father set up an eclectic farm on the ancestral land. For a great part of her childhood, Bethany helped to water orchards, harvest fruits and vegetables, chase after chickens, make cheese, and even milk the odd cow.
After competing in Miss Lebanon 2001 and proudly representing Lebanon in Miss World 2002, Bethany traveled the world and built a career around her enthusiasm for Middle Eastern food. Bethany has spent the last 5 years heating up the kitchen and establishing herself as the most provocative Middle Eastern cook online, bringing together her childhood memories of traditional Middle Eastern cuisine and interpreting it in a fresh, modern approach, all the while incorporating her well-traveled palate.
Bethany's debut cookbook on Middle Eastern cuisine entitled The Jewelled Kitchen (Duncan Baird Publishing) was released on July 4th in Europe, the Middle East and Australia. It was selected as Cookbook of the Week by The Telegraph and featured in The Times.
In 2010 Bethany launched Taste Lebanon culinary journeys across Lebanon and in 2009 founded Food Blogger Connect, the world's leading international food blogging conference. Bethany lives in the West Country of England with her British husband and splits her time between Lebanon, England and the rest of the world.
Bethany has appeared on several cookery shows in the UK, including the popular Market Kitchen: Big Adventure and Perfect, and has cooked for and held live cooking demonstrations at Foodies Festival (Bristol & Battersea) , Balade Restaurant (NYC) , Tawlet (Beirut) & L'atelier des Chefs (London) hosted by Wines of Lebanon. Bethany was selected by Monocle Mediterraneo 2012 as one of the four 'Mediterranean Food Ambassadors', representing Lebanon and is the ambassador of Freekehlicious in their North American Market.
Her work has been featured in many international publications including The Times, The Telegraph, CNN Travel, The Guardian, Conde Nast Traveller, Food & Travel Magazine, Bon Appetit, London Evening Standard, Delicious Magazine and countless others.
