Miami has become home to Syrian women refugees, who now dedicate themselves to making pastries using family recipes. Zaytouna Foods is a conscious-driven enterprise founded by Christa Tawil, a 29-year-old refugee from Aleppo, who first came to the United States in 2012, a year after civil war broke out in Syria. Its core mission is to help women from Syria resettle in South Florida by offering training, permanent gainful employment and an opportunity to share their stories and culture through food. Their shish barak, baba ghanouj, namoura, baklava and many others, are available for catering, for sale on their website and at events. Their baklava and ghraybeh (butter cookies) are now also available at Whole Foods (Coral Gables, Downtown Miami, North Miami Beach, Aventura, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Wellington, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Naples, Gainsville and Destin).
Recipes for Change is a non-profit organization committed to effecting social change through gastronomy and education, founded in 2016 by environmentalist Camila Basmagi and chef Santiago Gomez (Cantina La Viente and Tacology). Under the Social Gastronomy umbrella, they utilize food as one of the most effective and inclusive tools to fight inequality and poverty.
This May 12, 2019 (Sunday), Recipes for Change and Zaytouna Foods will be hosting a Mother’s Day with a Cause at the eco-friendly mixed-used urban center Miami Ironside on the Upper East Side (7610 NE 4th Ct., Miami, FL 33138).
From 10:30AM to 1:00PM, guests can enjoy a brunch by Zaytouna; and at the same time, children of all ages can explore art and their creative side at a pop-up station by Creare Creative Studio as they make a Mother’s Day gift for Mom! Tickets are available through Eventbrite ($62 for Mom and one child, inclusive of brunch and arts; $25 per additional child/ friend/ family member, inclusive of brunch and arts; $15 donation). All proceeds will directly benefit Syrian women refugees.
For more information on the event, please visit Eventbrite.
For more information on Recipes for Change, please visit their Instagram; for more information on Zaytouna Foods, please visit their website
