The olive, or zaitoun in Arabic, is the most emblematic ingredient in the Palestinian kitchen, and is widely regarded as a symbol of peace.

Through her cookbooks, human rights activist and food writer, Yasmin Khan challenges stereotypes of the Middle East, reminding us that “humans, wherever we are in the world, have more to unite us than to divide us,” and that food has the power to bring us all together. In her new book, Zaitoun, Khan shares stories from her travels through Palestinian home kitchens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, bringing Palestinian people, their stories, and their dishes to life. 

Come celebrate Palestinian food in honor of the U.S. launch of Zaitoun. Join Yasmin Khan and Kerry Diamond as they discuss the power of storytelling, the importance of travel writing in the age of Trump, the significance of the cultural ownership of food, and how food can be a vehicle for understanding a place and a people at a particular moment.

An informal reception with book signings and small bites will follow.

This program is part of our Eat•Drink•Read series, sponsored by W. W. Norton.

YASMIN KHAN

Yasmin Khan is a best-selling author, campaigner and cook who is passionate about sharing people’s stories through food. Her debut book, The Saffron Tales explored her culinary adventures through Iran and was named by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and BBC Radio 4 Food Programme as one of the best cookbooks of 2016. Her new book, Zaitoun, celebrates the food and stories of Palestinian communities she cooked with in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Prior to working in food, Khan was a human rights campaigner for a decade, running national and international campaigns for NGOS and grassroots groups.

KERRY DIAMOND

Kerry Diamond is the co-founder and editor in chief of Cherry Bombe, the media company that celebrates women in and around the world of food. Kerry hosts the weekly Radio Cherry Bombe podcast and authored the Cherry Bombe cookbook. She also is the owner of Smith Canteen, a coffee shop in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, that was named most sustainable coffee shop of 2018 by Sprudge.