Indonesian chef goes viral with soulful serving of Palestinian culinary heritage

Indonesian chef goes viral with soulful serving of Palestinian culinary heritage
Indonesian chef Michelle Santoso, left, and Palestinian chef Murad Halayqa prepare a family-style Palestinian dinner in Jakarta on Jan. 28, 2024. (Michelle Santoso)
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Updated 03 April 2024
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Indonesian chef goes viral with soulful serving of Palestinian culinary heritage

Indonesian chef goes viral with soulful serving of Palestinian culinary heritage
  • Michelle Santoso’s akkawi cheese video gained 4.6m views on Instagram
  • Sharing recipes of famous dishes, she also talks about the history of Palestine

Jakarta: In November, a month after the Israeli military began its relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip, Michelle Santoso posted her first attempt at making Palestinian maqluba on Instagram.

In the video, the Chinese Indonesian chef walks into the frame carrying a heavy pot, before turning it upside down to reveal layers of rice, vegetables and meat.

She then celebrated her culinary achievement with a little dance.

“Once you make it, you’re like — you get it, like you get why they dance after that,” she told Arab News, referring to social media clips showing people rejoicing after a successful attempt at making the epic dish.

The video of Santoso making maqluba has since garnered more than 2.3 million views on Instagram, marking the beginning of her journey exploring the culinary treasures of Palestine and sharing them with the rest of the world.

“After Oct. 7 happened … I just felt really lost and I felt really helpless. And I think a lot of us felt that way at the time. So, I thought, you know what, like, why don’t we celebrate Palestinian culture and Palestinian heritage?”

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Indonesia, Santoso has been working as a chef for more than a decade and started making videos on social media about three years ago.

Maqluba, a seasoned rice meal cooked with fried vegetables and either chicken or other meat, and which literally translates to “upside down,” was the first Palestinian delicacy Santoso had ever tried to make.

Since then, she has gone on to make other Palestinian dishes and post them on the internet. This includes mujaddara, or lentils cooked with rice and onions; freekeh soup, a comforting bowl made of the namesake Levantine grain and infused with cardamom; and Nabulsi knafeh, the layered and crispy spun pastry soaked in sweet syrup with stretchy cheese named after the Palestinian city of Nablus.

Last month, the 35-year-old for the first time attempted to make akkawi cheese, an undertaking that gained her the most traction on a post to date, with 4.6 million views and counting on Instagram alone.

“I think the reason why people responded a lot to that was because I did my research,” Santoso said. “In my videos, you know, we are never just talking about Palestinian food. I’m also talking about the history.”

In the video, Santoso narrates the origins of the white brine cheese that centuries ago was developed in the northern Palestinian port town of Akka, known today as Acre.

Her videos start off like most food content on the web, where viewers first learn the name of a dish before the steps needed to make it. The familiar start is what catches most people off guard by the time she begins to narrate the story of the food, often probing the audience to think about how such aspects relate to Palestinian history and Israel’s deadly attacks on Gaza, which in the past six months have killed more than 32,500 Palestinians.

“I think the reason why I do that is because I want to humanize Palestinian voices, or Palestine in general, because food is a gateway,” Santoso said.

“You can’t just eat the food and not think about what’s happening in Palestine, especially if you’re eating Palestinian food.”

Santoso’s content has struck a chord far and wide, catching the attention of Arabs residing in the West and also of Palestinians, who shower her with appreciation in the comment section.

“I really … didn’t feel like I was doing a lot, but it meant a lot to other people,” she said. “I think I confuse a lot of people because I’m Chinese and I’m Christian. So, ‘why is she talking about Palestine? And also, why is she cooking Palestinian food?’ And I think that the initial confusion is probably why people watch the video.”

Santoso’s videos became her take on activism, and her following has grown to more than 127,000 from just around 7,000 in November.

“Without me really knowing I’ve (gone) into food activism, but my intention was to talk about it. So, it is a form of activism and because food is preservation, it is also resistance,” she said.

Since she started posting Palestinian food content, her new followers have told her their personal stories as victims of Israeli attacks, while others have shared their family recipes.

“For me it’s precious cargo because to entrust someone with a family recipe, that’s not something that people like to do willingly,” she said. “But for Palestinians, it’s also a way of preserving their family culture or their family heritage.”

Through social media, Santoso hopes to help Palestinians keep their heritage alive and make more people aware of it.

“The more you keep a food alive, the more you remember where it’s come from. When you eat food or if you make a recipe, you’re actually remembering the past,” she said.

“And that’s what I really wanted to bring to the table … you’re eating something real and it’s come from a place with real people and real culture. And I didn’t want that to be forgotten.”


With community meals, Indian village keeps loneliness away from its elderly

With community meals, Indian village keeps loneliness away from its elderly
Updated 03 November 2024
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With community meals, Indian village keeps loneliness away from its elderly

With community meals, Indian village keeps loneliness away from its elderly
  • Chandanki village’s community kitchen initiative was launched about 15 years ago
  • The initiative was a ‘lifeline’ that kept elderly connected with village, senior resident says

NEW DELHI: In Chandanki, a village tucked away in India’s Gujarat state, lunches and dinners are often a communal affair for its elderly population.

Every day, some 40 people gather in the community kitchen to share their meals, benefiting from an initiative that was designed to serve an aging group.

“It all started some 15 years ago,” Poonam Chunnilal Patel, the head of Chandanki village, told Arab News.

“Most people are old here. I am 60 years old, other people are 80, 90 and 95 years old,” he said.

“They were having problems arranging their lunches and dinners, so the villagers decided to do something about that. The kids who settled abroad or outside of the village decided to pitch in and open a community kitchen for these elderly people.”

Officially, Chandanki is a village of about 1,000 people, but most of the younger population reside in other parts of India or abroad, leaving behind their senior parents.

With two cooks on duty, the kitchen makes preparations for around 40 people every day and makes extra for the children who visit from time to time. They serve mainly Gujarati food, such as the Gujarati Thali, an assortment of dishes comprising rice, bread, fried snacks and vegetables.

“We take care of the cooks and we provide houses to them and give them good salaries,” Patel said.

The community kitchen has since served as a space to connect with others for many of the village’s elderly, like 86-year-old Raddilal Somnam Patel.

“The community kitchen is a lifeline for us. For people like us, it not only provides food but also keeps us connected with the people in the village,” Patel told Arab News.

Patel joined the community kitchen nearly a decade ago, not long after the death of his wife and only family. Since then, he has also been celebrating festivals and holidays with the rest of the village.

“It all started close to 15 years ago, and I really appreciate that this idea stuck with the people that time,” he said.

“By dining together, we remain connected, and the sense of loneliness does not impact us.”


London event to highlight religious tourism opportunities ‘beyond Umrah’

The holy Kaaba can be seen at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (@AlharamainSA)
The holy Kaaba can be seen at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (@AlharamainSA)
Updated 57 min 24 sec ago
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London event to highlight religious tourism opportunities ‘beyond Umrah’

The holy Kaaba can be seen at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (@AlharamainSA)
  • Discussions to focus on significant religious sites for pilgrims to visit

LONDON: Religious tourism opportunities in Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims will be discussed at a London event for travel professionals and industry leaders on Monday.

The Umrah+ Connect business-to-business event will highlight significant religious sites that pilgrims can visit, and activities that promote understanding of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.

Organized in association with Saudi Arabia’s Pilgrim Experience Program, the Visit Saudi platform, and the Umrah & Ziyarah Forum, the event aims to meet the expanding demand for religious tourism among British Muslims.

Rashid Mohammed, the organizer of Umrah+ Connect, said Monday’s event would focus on “inspiring a more immersive experience for pilgrims through a ‘beyond Umrah’ theme.”

Mohammed told Arab News: “Umrah+ Connect is more than an event: It’s a transformative opportunity for travel professionals to deepen their knowledge, connect with key partners, and discover innovative ways to serve pilgrims.

“We’re excited to bring the global Umrah community together in London to spark collaborations that enhance both the journey and experience for travelers worldwide.

“We aim to showcase the diverse religious tourism opportunities available, enriching each pilgrim’s journey and adding new dimensions to their visit.”

The annual event, which is in its fourth year, will feature presentations by industry leaders, workshops on religious tourism, and networking sessions with global industry professionals.

It is sponsored by Taiba Investments, Makkah Hotel & Towers, Al-Balad Hospitality by Al-Balad Development Company, Hajj and Umrah tour operator Mawasim, which is part of Almosafer, and ABT Hospitality. Aroya Cruises is an event partner. 


US congresswoman Rashida Tlaib declines to endorse Kamala Harris over Gaza stance

US congresswoman Rashida Tlaib declines to endorse Kamala Harris over Gaza stance
Updated 03 November 2024
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US congresswoman Rashida Tlaib declines to endorse Kamala Harris over Gaza stance

US congresswoman Rashida Tlaib declines to endorse Kamala Harris over Gaza stance
  • Tlaib’s non-endorsement on Friday marked notable departure in her progressive circle, known as the “Squad.”

LONDON: Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian American woman in the US Congress, chose not to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris at a recent United Auto Workers rally in Detroit.

The conflict in Gaza has become a major issue for the large Arab American voter base in Michigan, and Tlaib’s non-endorsement on Friday marked a notable departure in her progressive circle, known as the “Squad.”

The other members — Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — endorsed Harris in July, making Tlaib the sole holdout.

Addressing the rally, Tlaib encouraged those attending to mobilize against corporate interests.

“Don’t underestimate the power you all have,” she said. “More than those ads, those lawn signs, those billboards, you all have more power to turn out people that understand we’ve got to fight back against corporate greed in our country.”

Democrats are concerned about a potential replay of the 2016 election, in which third-party votes in Michigan and Wisconsin contributed to Hillary Clinton’s narrow loss.

Tlaib has expressed frustration with her party’s stance on the Gaza conflict. During a recent interview with Zeteo, Tlaib criticized the Democratic Party’s silence on Palestinian issues, saying: “Our trauma and pain feel unseen and ignored by both parties. One party uses our identity as a slur, and the other refuses to hear from us. Where is the shared humanity? Ignoring us won’t stop the genocide.”

Harris, meanwhile, has faced protests from activists calling for an arms embargo on Israel.

While expressing support for a ceasefire and an end to hostilities, Harris has stated that Israel “has a right to defend itself,” although she also underlined Palestinians’ right to “dignity, security.”

In her remarks at a recent Dearborn rally, Tlaib denounced Republican nominee Donald Trump and criticized the Biden administration’s policies.

“Trump is a proud Islamophobe + serial liar who doesn’t stand for peace,” she posted on X. “The reality is that the Biden admin’s unconditional support for genocide is what got us here.”

The stance of Michigan’s large Arab American population and Tlaib’s comments underscore the complexities the Democratic Party faces with its base as the 2024 election approaches.


Fading literature: Delhi’s famed Urdu Bazaar on last legs

Fading literature: Delhi’s famed Urdu Bazaar on last legs
Updated 03 November 2024
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Fading literature: Delhi’s famed Urdu Bazaar on last legs

Fading literature: Delhi’s famed Urdu Bazaar on last legs
  • Urdu, spoken by many millions, has rich past that reflects how cultures melded to forge India’s complex history
  • But its literature has been subsumed by the cultural domination of Hindi, struggling against false perceptions

New Delhi: In the bustling heart of Old Delhi, Indian bookseller Mohammed Mahfooz Alam sits forlorn in his quiet store, among the last few selling literature in a language beloved by poets for centuries.
Urdu, spoken by many millions today, has a rich past that reflects how cultures melded to forge India’s complex history.
But its literature has been subsumed by the cultural domination of Hindi, struggling against false perceptions that its elegant Perso-Arabic script makes it a foreign import and a language of Muslims in the Hindu-majority nation.
“There was a time when, in a year, we would see 100 books being published,” said 52-year-old Alam, lamenting the loss of the language and its readership.
The narrow streets of Urdu Bazaar, in the shadow of the 400-year-old Jama Masjid mosque, were once the core of the city’s Urdu literary community, a center of printing, publishing and writing.
Today, streets once crowded with Urdu bookstores abuzz with scholars debating literature are now thick with the aroma of sizzling kebabs from the restaurants that have replaced them.
Only half a dozen bookstores are left.
“Now, there are no takers,” Alam said, waving at the streets outside. “It is now a food market.”
Urdu, one of the 22 languages enshrined under India’s constitution, is the mother tongue of at least 50 million people in the world’s most populous country. Millions more speak it, as well as in neighboring Pakistan.
But while Urdu is largely understood by speakers of India’s most popular language Hindi, their scripts are entirely different.
Alam says he can see Urdu literature dying “day by day.”
The Maktaba Jamia bookshop he manages opened a century ago. Alam took over its running this year driven by his love for the language.
“I have been sitting since morning, and barely four people have come,” he said gloomily. “And even those were college or school-going children who want their study books.”
Urdu, sharing Hindi’s roots and mingled with words from Persian and Arabic, emerged as a hybrid speech between those who came to India through trade and conquest — and the people they settled down among.
But Urdu has faced challenges in being viewed as connected to Islamic culture, a popular perception that has grown since the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in 2014.
Hard-right Hindu nationalists seeking to diminish Islam’s place in India’s history have opposed its use: in the past decade, protests have ranged from the use of Urdu in clothing advertisements to even graffiti.
“Urdu has been associated with Muslims, and that has hit the language too,” said Alam.
“But it is not true. Everyone speaks Urdu. You go to villages, people speak Urdu. It is a very sweet language. There is peace in it.”
For centuries, Urdu was a key language of governance.
Sellers first set up stores in the Urdu Bazaar in the 1920s, selling stacks of books from literature to religion, politics and history — as well as texts in Arabic and Persian.
By the 1980s, more lucrative fast-food restaurants slowly moved in, but the trade dropped dramatically in the past decade, with more than a dozen bookshops shutting down.
“With the advent of the Internet, everything became easily available on the mobile phone,” said Sikander Mirza Changezi, who co-founded a library to promote Urdu in Old Delhi in 1993.
“People started thinking buying books is useless, and this hit the income of booksellers and publishers, and they switched to other businesses.”
The Hazrat Shah Waliullah Public Library, which Changezi helped create, houses thousands of books including rare manuscripts and dictionaries.
It is aimed at promoting the Urdu language.
Student Adeeba Tanveer, 27, who has a masters degree in Urdu, said the library provided a space for those wanting to learn.
“The love for Urdu is slowly coming back,” Tanveer told AFP, adding that her non-Muslim friends were also keen to learn.
“It is such a beautiful language,” she said. “You feel the beauty when you speak it.”
 


Family mourns Bangladeshi man killed by Israeli strike in Lebanon

Family mourns Bangladeshi man killed by Israeli strike in Lebanon
Updated 03 November 2024
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Family mourns Bangladeshi man killed by Israeli strike in Lebanon

Family mourns Bangladeshi man killed by Israeli strike in Lebanon
  • Mohammad Nizam, 31, was killed on Saturday afternoon on his way to work in Beirut
  • Death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon has surged to nearly 3,000 people

DHAKA: The family of a Bangladeshi worker who died in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon said on Sunday that Tel Aviv was the only one responsible for his death and called for an immediate stop to the war raging in the Middle East.

There are between 70,000 and 100,000 Bangladeshi nationals in Lebanon, many working as laborers or domestic workers, according to estimates from the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry.

Mohammad Nizam, 31, was killed on Saturday afternoon as he stopped at a coffee shop on the way to work in Beirut, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Lebanon Javed Tanveer Khan said in a statement.

Mohammad Nizam, 31, was killed on Saturday afternoon in Beirut. (Supplied)

“Israel is solely responsible for the death of my brother. This war should be stopped without any delay,” Nizam’s older brother, Mohammad Jalal, told Arab News.

“Since the beginning of recent Israeli attacks in Lebanon, I have been worried about Nizam’s safety. But I couldn’t imagine this tragic end to my brother’s life. If I could have sensed this outcome even a little bit, I would have brought him back at any cost.”

The death toll from Israel’s attacks on Lebanon since late September has surged to nearly 3,000, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. More than 13,300 people have been injured in air and ground raids, many of which have targeted civilian and medical infrastructure.

“I don’t understand how many innocent lives need to be sacrificed to satisfy the whims of the Israeli leadership. It’s simply inhuman, insane and cynical,” Jalal said.

In the wake of Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, an estimated 1,800 Bangladeshis had registered for an evacuation flight home.    

The first flights, organized by the government in Dhaka with the UN’s International Organization for Migration, had already brought some of them from Beirut last month.

Nizam was not among those who registered, with Jalal saying that his younger sibling had not been home once since he started living and working in Lebanon 12 years ago.

“The last time we talked … he was talking about building a house here in his birthplace. He was planning to return home soon by the end of this year. But now all of our dreams for a happy reunion have faded away with this sudden blow,” he said.

Though a request to repatriate the body of the deceased has been made, officials have said it was not currently possible due to the ongoing war. But Nizam’s family is still hoping for an arrangement with the help of authorities.

“Now I am waiting to see my brother’s face for one last time and bury him in our village. But I have no idea whether it would be possible or not amid this war situation,” Jalal said. “I don’t know when I will be able to see his face.”