Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food – Cookbook by Fadi Kattan

Looking for an authentic Palestinian cookbook that teaches you more about Palestine? Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food by chef and hotelier Fadi Kattan invites you into the heart of Bethlehem through seasonal recipes, stories and stunning photography.

Organised by season, this book celebrates the flavours and traditions of Palestine, featuring images of lush landscapes, bustling markets and spice shops, and the farmers and cooks who keep these food traditions alive. It is designed to be cooked from, with recipes meant to live on your kitchen counter, stained with sumac and full of flavour.

Alongside recipes, you will find personal reflections and family memories, including Fadi’s time in the kitchen with his maternal grandmother Teta Julia and recipes inspired by his paternal grandmother Teta Emily. The book also introduces readers to the growers, millers and artisans who produce Palestine’s olives, grapes and grains, showing how their work sustains a rich culinary heritage.

Expect recipes that range from simple to celebratory, such as:

• Fig Salad with Olive Oil and Sumac – a light, seasonal starter
• Sayadieh Samak – a spiced rice and fish favourite
• Christmas Fruitcake – a festive dessert with a Palestinian twist
• Arayes with Shrak – minced meat stuffed into thin shrak bread

About the Author
Fadi Kattan is a Franco-Palestinian chef and hotelier, recognised as one of the leading voices of modern Palestinian cuisine. After training in hotel management at Institut Vatel and working in Paris and London, he returned to Bethlehem to focus on Palestinian food.

In 2016, he opened Fawda Restaurant, combining Palestine’s finest produce with a contemporary dining approach. During the pandemic, he hosted Sabah el Yasmine – Ramblings of a Chef on Radio Al-Hara and a YouTube series called Teta’s Kitchen, exploring family recipes. In 2023, he co-founded Akub, a modern Palestinian restaurant in Notting Hill, London, and also launched Kassa, Bethlehem’s first heritage luxury boutique hotel.

Why We Stock This Book at Babipur
At Babipur, we are passionate about sharing books that connect families with culture and heritage. Bethlehem is more than a cookbook. It is a portrait of a city and its people, celebrating resilience, memory and the deep ties between food and identity. Through Fadi’s words and recipes, readers are invited to cook, reflect and celebrate Palestine’s rich culinary story.