Palestinian dining event raises £1600 for community in Gaza

A Palestinian feast last weekend raised a whopping £1600 to help the support the health needs of an impoverished fishing community in Gaza, Palestine. Katy Colley writes.

Around 100 locals attended Come Dine for Palestine on Saturday 26 November at Ore Community Centre, where they were treated to a vegetarian Palestinian banquet prepared by rising culinary star, Chef Momo.

The meal included Maklouba – an upside down rice dish; home-made Daraa bread; Motabbal – a dip made from aubergines; Harak Osbao made with lentils and pasta; cauliflower dish Arnabeet and Maftoul made from chickpeas and couscous.

Momo is Syrian-Palestinian and has made a name for himself in Hastings, hosting supper clubs, pop-up stalls and guest-cheffing at the recently launched Dove Café on Bexhill Road.

He was assisted in the kitchen by volunteers Jill, Jackie Collins and Iraqi Palestinians Roa and Fatma Almadi.

‘It was amazing to enjoy such fresh and delicious vegetarian food, to have a little taste of Palestine in Hastings,’ said guest Phil Colley. ‘We were very lucky to experience this unique meal and I can’t wait for Momo to open his own restaurant!’

The event, jointly hosted by the Hastings & Rye Palestine Solidarity Campaign [HRPSC] and Hastings Friends of Al-Mawasi, included entertainment from Frank Moon on the oud and Deniz Akdogan on the saz, a Turkish plucked instrument. Deniz brought the whole hall together for a rousing rendition of Bella Ciao.

‘It was a wonderful night with a broad and diverse audience, people of all ages and from all walks of life,’ said HRPSC Secretary Laurie Holden. ‘I was so heartened to meet lots of new people keen to try Palestinian cuisine and to see the kids joining in the fun, especially with the raffle!

‘Thanks to everyone who supported our event – to Momo, his assistants and the artists who all gave their time for free, to the generous businesses who donated raffle prizes, people who bought dining tickets and those who bought raffle tickets. Hastings has outdone itself!’

Grace Lally from the Hastings Friends of Al Mawasi says the money will go a long way to helping repair the roof of the community health centre and investing in vital new equipment.

She said: ‘This is an important contribution to a community which has suffered under 15 years of siege and bombing campaigns.

‘It is also important too to remind them that there are people in the world who care and want to see their freedom. We are thrilled that so many guests on the night signed up to our friendship link campaign, which twins local families and individuals with people in Al Mawasi. This is a lovely way to get to know people in Gaza on a personal level.’

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