Dinner from Bethlehem

“Food is about the story of the land, food is about the story of my grandmothers, food is about the story of my life. It’s about the richness and the diversity of Palestine. I'd like to take anyone who asks me about Palestinian food by the hand and take them on a visit to Bethlehem through its recipes and through its people.” ¹ Chef Fadi Kattan

For the first time in Amsterdam, we are honored to host the renowned Franco-Palestinian Chef Fadi Kattan for an exclusive dinner on November 30th at A Beautiful Mess Oosterdok. Fadi is the celebrated author of Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food, nominated as the Los Angeles Times Best Cookbook of 2024. Fadi is also the visionary behind Louf, Toronto, making it to Toronto Life's prestigious 2025 best new restaurants list, and Akub, one of London’s top modern Palestinian restaurants.

Join us for a one-of-a-kind evening, where chef Fadi Kattan will present a thoughtfully designed five-course menu using Dutch local ingredients, inspired by his nominated book and his restaurant's adventurous and contemporary take on traditional Palestinian dishes.

This special menu offers a unique culinary experience - from slow-cooked tender lamb with the flavors of fenugreek, cumin, and allspice, to beloved classics like Dagga Ghazawiyeh, a refreshing and aromatic addition to your meal. For this and much more, our full menu with wine pairing will follow soon.

This dinner will include a special wine pairing created by Anna Patrowicz, a sommelier and beverage designer inspired by Palestinian flavors. Drawing from her experience in the wine world and her collaboration with the growers, she brings a deep sensitivity to pairing and taste. For Anna, wine is a journey through emotions, love, and respect for craftsmanship.

We’re delighted to present a limited edition selection of exclusive wines for this special evening. We'll be serving the Ashkar Winery Bayad 2024, a beautifully aromatic white blend from the Galilee Highlands, the Taybeh Winery Nadim Rosé 2022 from Taybeh, Palestine, crafted from Syrah, Grenache, and the local Bitouni grape, as well as the Jascala Winery Cabernet Franc 2016 from the Upper Galilee.

Fadi was encouraged from an early age to be bold with flavor combinations, inspired by his grandmother Emilie’s adventurous spirit. Her travels brought a treasure of spices and recipes, inheriting wisdom on how to blend them harmoniously with the local ingredients of Palestine, where food is at the center of family life. This invaluable wisdom forms the heart of our menu’s distinctiveness, where each dish is a vibrant expression of creativity and tradition, promising a memorable dining experience.

The evening will also feature a special storytelling moment where our guest storyteller will take us deeper into the heritage of Bethlehem. And through the evening, we invite you to carry a piece of this experience with you.

To make the evening even more special, HummusAcademy will host a Christmas market featuring a carefully curated selection of Palestinian flavors and crafts. Explore our exclusive wine collection, spices, and olive oil from the region. Discover handmade soaps, accessories, and beautiful ceramics by MaryAnn Jaraisy. You'll also have the chance to purchase a signed copy of Fadi Kattan’s cookbook; a culinary journey through his hometown, where food tells the story of the land, family, and joy.

¹Interview done by Anastasia Miari on Matriarch Eats

Tickets overview:

Standard Ticket – €150

Includes a five-course dinner curated by Fadi Kattan and a Palestinian wine pairing.

Add-On: Signed Cookbook – €40

Includes a signed copy of Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food, Fadi’s award-winning cookbook that inspired the evening’s menu.

Add-On (Limited edition): Bottle of exclusive Palestinian wine

Bottle of Taybeh Winery, Nadim, Zeini, Palestine, 2023 to take home - €50

Crisp and light character with crunchy notes of green apple and conference pear, lemon pith, and lemon balm.

Bottle of Ashkar Winery,Doér, Galillee Highlands, 2021 to take home - €70

Well-balanced blend with complex flavours of black cherries and forest fruit, spicy tobacco leaf and earthy mineral verve.

Bottle of Jascala Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Galillee Highlands, 2014 to take home - €65

The aromas of black currant and chocolate with sweet cherry compote and liquorice with an extra touch of spice and bay leaf, with underlying notes of leather.