Band together to support a great cause, hone new cooking skills, and fill your bellies with renowned Syrian chef, Chef Racha Abou Alchamat at Racha’s Syrian Kitchen. Featured on SBS Food, Chef Alchamat will take you through the basics of Syrian cooking from fatteh – a traditional appetiser with either the meat or a vegetarian option to many more Syrian delicacies that you will learn, and enjoy making over the span of three hours.

“I want to show people how to make fatteh because it’s very authentic, it reminds me of my childhood back in Syria, where the family gathers around the table on Fridays to share it. It’s a famous dish in Damascus,” says Chef Racha.

Grab your partner and make it a date night, a girls night or if you are intrigued to learn a new cuisine, then join Racha’s Syrian Kitchen on 2^nd March 2022, at the Sydney Cooking School, Neutral Bay.

Hosted by Welcome Merchant, fifty per cent of the ticket sales will be given to the organisation’s refugee and migrant chef partners. This event will help to fulfil the aim of Welcome Merchant – Eat Well to Empower!

Conceived by Marjorie Tenchavez, Welcome Merchant is a platform to bridge the gap between refugee, and asylum seeker entrepreneurs, and the wider Australian community.

“Our mission is to elevate refugee–powered businesses in Australia through; curated events, merchandise partnership, free online directory listings, social media marketing support, and skill-building workshops,” says Tenchavez.

“I’m looking forward to learning a new cuisine, doing something different for my partner’s birthday and supporting a great cause,” says Maz who has already secured spots at the cooking table.

The timing of the cooking class is from 7 pm until 10 pm. Post cooking up a Syrian meal, participants will get an opportunity to share the meal with other participants, and ask and learn more about the Syrian culture.

Tickets are priced from $150 per person, with a refreshing drink, and a take-home recipe card included. If any dietary requirements, please let the events organizer know three days prior to the event.

Limited spots available, so grab your tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/empowering-syrian-cooking-class-for-a-good-cause-tickets-228012971937

Please note: This is a COVID safe event. Check-in via the QR code is mandatory, and vaccination certificates will be checked prior to entering. Masks will be worn by staff.

In the recent past, Welcome Merchant ran a pop-up along with Racha’s Syrian Kitchen at Sydney’s eclectic Cafe Fredas; a Welcome Afghans brunch at Afghan-owned restaurant – Zac’s Great Food, and a Malay Fusion night that raised money for the National Justice Project in Sydney. They also organised a Welcome Afghan lunch for newly arrived Afghan refugees in Melbourne in collaboration with HOST international, and AMES Australia.