The Ruby’s Cookbook Club is a combination potluck and book club. Participants should cook a dish from the book (at least 6 servings).
We'll be cooking from and discussing Arabiyya: Recipes from the Life of an Arab in Diaspora. The author, Reem Assil, will be joining us for dinner!
We'll have a copy of the book at the Ruby. You're welcome to review the Ruby library copy, borrow from the library, or purchase from a local bookstore.
***A note about health and safety: This event is open only to vaccinated individuals providing proof of vaccination. We will cap cookbook club attendance at 18 and will be eating and discussing on our outdoor patio****
About Arabiyya: Recipes from the Life of an Arab in Diaspora
Arabiyya celebrates the alluring aromas and flavors of Arab food and the welcoming spirit with which they are shared. Written from her point of view as an Arab in diaspora, Reem takes readers on a journey through her Palestinian and Syrian roots, showing how her heritage has inspired her recipes for flatbreads, dips, snacks, platters to share, and more. With a section specializing in breads of the Arab bakery, plus recipes for favorites such as Salatet Fattoush, Falafel Mahshi, Mujaddarra, and Hummus Bil Awarma, Arabiyya showcases the origins and evolution of Arab cuisine and opens up a whole new world of flavor.
Alongside the tempting recipes, Reem shares stories of the power of Arab communities to turn hardship into brilliant, nourishing meals and any occasion into a celebratory feast. Reem then translates this spirit into her own work in California, creating restaurants that define hospitality at all levels. Yes, there are tender lamb dishes, piles of fresh breads, and perfectly cooked rice, but there is also food for thought about what it takes to create a more equitable society, where workers and people often at the margins are brought to the center. Reem’s glorious dishes draw in readers and customers, but it is her infectious warmth that keeps them at the table.
With gorgeous photography, original artwork, and transporting writing, Reem helps readers better understand the Arab diaspora and its global influence on food and culture. She then invites everyone to sit at a table where all are welcome.
About Reem Assil
Reem Assil is a Palestinian-Syrian chef based in Oakland, CA. She is the owner of Reem’s California, a nationally acclaimed restaurant, inspired by her passion for Arab street corner bakeries and the vibrant communities that surround them.
Barely a year after opening Reem’s in 2017, Assil opened an Arab fine dining concept, Dyafa, in partnership with Alta Restaurant Group, earning it a place on the Michelin Guide and Bib Gourmand’s List in its first year.
Reem has garnered an array of top accolades, including the following:
James Beard finalist in Outstanding Chef in 2022, semifinalist in the Best Chef: West in 2018 & 2019
Thrillist's "2018 Chef of the Year"
San Francisco Magazine’s “2018 Chef of the Year"
San Francisco Chronicle's “2017 Rising Star Chef”
Star Chefs "2019 Rising Star Restauranteur"
Reem’s California was also named:
Food & Wine’s "2018 Top 10 New Restaurants of the Year”
SF Chronicle’s “2019 Top 100”
Mercury News’ “Bay Area’s Best 50 Restaurants”
East Bay Express "2019 Best Middle Eastern Restaurant"
Oakland Townie Awards "2019 Small Business of the Year"