Reem Kassis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Reem Kassis
Born1987
Jerusalem
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School, The London School of Economics
OccupationWriter
Years active2017–present
Known forThe Palestinian Table
Websitereemkassis.com

Reem Kassis (Arabic: ريم قسيس) (born 1987[1]) is a Palestinian writer and cookbook author who holds Israeli citizenship. Her work focuses on the intersection of food with culture, history and politics.[2][3][4]

Early life[edit]

Reem Kassis was born and raised in Jerusalem, to a father from a Christian family from the Galilee and a mother from a Muslim family from Jaljulya.[5]

She left Jerusalem at 17 to attend the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia where she earned her undergraduate degrees in business and international studies at the Huntsman Program.[6] She earned her MBA from the Wharton School in 2010 and studied further at the London School of Economics obtaining an MSc in social psychology.[3]

Career[edit]

Prior to her career in writing, Kassis worked as a business consultant at McKinsey & Company. She also worked with the World Economic Forum and in executive search.[3] After the birth of her daughters, she decided to leave the business world and pursue a writing career.[4]

Her first book, The Palestinian Table, was published in 2017 and nominated for a James Beard Award,[7] won the Guild of Food Writers First Book Award, and was shortlisted for the Andre Simon Award[8] and the Edward Stanford Award.[9] It was also selected as one of NPRs best books of 2017.[10] Her second book, The Arabesque Table, published in 2022 was hailed as one of the best cookbooks of the year by numerous outlets.[11]

Kassis also writes on issues of culinary appropriation, food history and culture.[2]

Books[edit]

The Palestinian Table[edit]

Her debut cookbook, The Palestinian Table, was published in October 2017 by Phaidon Press. The volume was aimed at preserving traditional Palestinian dishes and introducing Western readers to Palestinian cuisine and culture. In the preface Kassis wrote: “The Palestinian Table spans our entire geography from the mountains of the Galilee to the valleys of the south, from the coast of Yaffa all the way to the West Bank. It is scattered across the globe and built from memories of a time when most of us lived in the same land.”[12] The Palestinian Table consists of 150 recipes, with photography, personal anecdotes, and origins of the dishes.[13][14]

The reviews for The Palestinian Table were generally positive. NPR named it one of the best books of the year.[10] The Guardian,[15] The Independent[16], New York Magazine[17], Buzzfeed[18], San Francisco Chronicle[19], The National Post[20], Saveur Magazine[21], Departures[22], and Milk Street[23] all listed the work in their lists of the best cookbooks published in 2017.[24] A journalist in the Institute for Palestinian Studies recommended the book for newcomers, calling Kassis “a humble guide who doesn’t dazzle with intimidating recipes”.[12] Tanuahka Marah, the reviewer for the Morning Star described the photography as “stunning”.[24] In her nomination for the Palestine Book Award, a critic praised the author's anecdotes for providing “valuable cultural insight as well as specifics about how the local dishes are prepared and served”.[25] The late chef Anthony Bourdain praised the book saying, "With The Palestinian Table, Reem Kassis gracefully demonstrates the power of food to transcend the political divisions that are, too often, all we know of a place like Palestine. Reading and cooking from this essential book - a thoughtful collection of great recipes, historical and cultural insights, and beautiful photographs - will move you closer to understanding this complex, fascinating part of the world.[26][4]"

The Palestinian Table was short-listed for the Andre Simon Food and Drink Book Awards,[8] the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards,[9] and was a winner in the Eugenie Brazier awards in Lyon.[27] The book also won the First Book award by the Guild of Food Writers.[28] and was nominated for the James Beard Foundation Award in the International category.[7]

The Arabesque Table[edit]

The Arabesque Table was published in 2021 by Phaidon Press. The volume takes a much broader look at contemporary cooking from across the Arab world, tracing the evolving and cross cultural food of the region and showcasing the impact of Arab food on global cooking today.[29] The book had good critical reception with The New York Times,[30] Eater,[31] Food & Wine,[32] Wired,[11] CNN,[33] WBUR,[34] SFGATE,[35] The National Post[36] all listing the book as one of the best cookbooks published in 2021. Yotam Ottolenghi praised the book saying, "The Arabesque Table sees food, recipes and stories as part of the on-going conversation (and feast!) between cultures and their cuisines. It sees food, stories and the identities these things are linked to as fluid, receptive; not as static or fixed in one time or place. As a result, the book is full to the brim with dishes which are rooted in tradition and at the same time creatively (and deliciously!) transcend  it. I think it is wonderful![37]"

Select works[edit]

Books[edit]

  • The Palestinian Table (Phaidon, 2017), ISBN 978-0714874968
  • The Arabesque Table (Phaidon, 2021), ISBN 978-1838662516
  • We are Palestinian (Bonnier Books, 2023), ISBN 978-1800783287

Newspaper Articles[edit]

  • "The Best Olive Oil in the World? This Village Thinks So." The New York Times (2021)[38]
  • "Do You Have Nafas, the Elusive Gift That Makes Food Taste Better?" The New York Times (2022)[39]
  • "Here’s why Palestinians object to the term ‘Israeli food’: It erases us from history," The Washington Post (2020)[2]
  • "Why we cook when the world doesn't make sense," The Los Angeles Times (2020)[40]
  • "Recipes for a Smaller Holiday Meal With Big Flavor," The Wall Street Journal (2020)[41]
  • "Cook and writer Reem Kassis on the Galilee," The Financial Times (2017)[42]

Websites & Magazines[edit]

  • "National Cuisine Is a Useful Illusion," The Atlantic (2022)[43]
  • Ka'ak and Ma'amoul Are the Sweets That Connect My Family Through Joy and Sorrow," Food & Wine (2021)[44]
  • "Ka’ak, and the Case for the Ancient Arabic Origins of the Bagel," Serious Eats (2021)[45]
  • "Stop Fighting for Gender Equality... Start Demanding Respect," HuffPost (2016)[46]

Fiction[edit]

  • "Farradiya - A Short Story," Kweli Journal (2019)

Personal life[edit]

Kassis is married to Albert Muaddi. The couple have two daughters and live in Philadelphia.[47]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Food Without Borders | Episode 44: The Palestinian Table with Reem Kassis". Heritage Radio Network. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Kassis, Reem (18 February 2020). "Here's why Palestinians object to the term 'Israeli food': It erases us from history". The Washington Post. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Richards, Carl (21 November 2017). "A Story of a Big Dream and a Single, Small Step". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Lewin, Lyrin (13 August 2018). "Cookbook retells Palestinian narrative through food". CNN. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  5. ^ Vered, Ronit. "How Reem Kassis Became the International Face of Palestinian Cuisine". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Reem Kassis". The Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  7. ^ a b "The James Beard Foundation Announces Its 2018 Award Nominees". Food & Wine. 14 March 2018. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018.
  8. ^ a b Onwuemezi, Natasha (14 December 2017). "André Simon Food & Drink Book Awards shortlist revealed". The Bookseller. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b Onwuemezi, Natasha (10 January 2018). "Edward Stanford award shortlists reveal 'broad scope' of travel writing". The Bookseller. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b Chang, Susan T. "Best Books of 2017". NPR.
  11. ^ a b "The 7 Best Cookbooks of 2021". Wired. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b Bouarrouj, Khelil (5 January 2018). "Book Review: 'The Palestinian Table', by Reem Kassis". Palestine Square. Institute for Palestine Studies. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  13. ^ Gallafent, Alex (28 November 2017). "'The Palestinian Table' is as much a memoir as a cookbook". Public Radio International. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  14. ^ Brehaut, Laura (24 November 2017). "Beyond conflict: Palestinian Reem Kassis paints a holistic picture of culture through food". National Post. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  15. ^ "The 20 best food books of 2017". The Guardian. 17 December 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  16. ^ Platt Leonard, Julia (8 December 2017). "2017 in cookbooks: From The Palestinian Table to Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat". The Independent. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  17. ^ Halpern, Ashlea (5 December 2017). "12 Cookbook Authors on the Cookbooks They Want for the Holidays". The Strategist. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  18. ^ Telling, Marie (19 December 2017). "14 Cookbooks You Need In Your Life Right Now". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  19. ^ Fritsche, By Sarah (24 November 2017). "Our favorite cookbooks of 2017 - SFChronicle.com". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  20. ^ Brehaut, Laura (27 November 2017). "The best cookbooks of the year are all excellent holiday gift ideas". National Post. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  21. ^ "The Fall Cookbooks We're Reading Right Now". Saveur. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  22. ^ "The Best New Cookbooks for Fall 2017". Departures. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  23. ^ "Milk Street's Top 10 Food Books of 2017". Milk Street. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  24. ^ a b Marah, Tanuahka (19 February 2018). "Palestinian pleasures brought to the table". Morning Star. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  25. ^ Alfarra, Jehan. "The Palestinian Table". Palestine Book Awards. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  26. ^ Kassis, Reem (23 October 2017). Editorial Reviews. Phaidon Press. ISBN 978-0714874968.
  27. ^ "Les Recettes d'une connasse*: Grand Prix Eugénie Brazier!". LYON SAVEURS (in French). 21 December 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  28. ^ "The Palestinian Table wins coveted First Book Award". Phaidon Press. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  29. ^ LaBan, Craig (26 March 2021). "Palestinian author Reem Kassis explores Arab culture in new cookbook". inquirer.com. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  30. ^ "The Best Cookbooks of 2021". The New York Times. 14 December 2021. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  31. ^ "The 17 Best Cookbooks of Spring 2021". Eater. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  32. ^ "23 Spring Cookbooks We're Adding to Our Shelves". Food & Wine. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  33. ^ Bratskeir, Kate (24 May 2021). "The cookbooks everyone should have, according to cookbook authors". CNN Underscored. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  34. ^ "End the year on a sweet or savory note with chef Kathy Gunst's favorite cookbooks of 2021". www.wbur.org. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  35. ^ Briskin, Will (1 February 2022). "The best new cookbooks to start 2022". SFGATE. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  36. ^ Brehaut, Laura (13 December 2021). "The best cookbooks of 2021". National Post. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  37. ^ Kassis, Reem (2021). Editorial Reviews. Phaidon. ISBN 978-1838662516.
  38. ^ Kassis, Reem (19 October 2021). "The Best Olive Oil in the World? This Village Thinks So". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  39. ^ Kassis, Reem (1 April 2021). "Do You Have Nafas, the Elusive Gift That Makes Food Taste Better?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  40. ^ "Column: Why we cook when the world doesn't make sense". news.yahoo.com. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  41. ^ Kassis, Reem (25 November 2020). "Recipes for a Smaller Holiday Meal With Big Flavor". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  42. ^ Kassis, Reem (13 October 2017). "Cook and writer Reem Kassis on the Galilee". Financial Times. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  43. ^ Kassis, Reem (15 February 2022). "National Cuisine Is a Useful Illusion". The Atlantic. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  44. ^ Kassis, Reem (7 June 2021). "Ka'ak and Ma'amoul Are the Sweets That Connect My Family Through Joy and Sorrow". Food & Wine. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  45. ^ "Ka'ak, and the Case for the Ancient Arabic Origins of the Bagel". Serious Eats. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  46. ^ "Stop Fighting for Gender Equality... Start Demanding Respect". HuffPost. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  47. ^ Rothman, Jordana. "Common Threads: Food & Wine Goes Home for the Holidays With Two Chefs: One Palestinian, the Other Israeli". Food & Wine.
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