Anissa Helou

Chef, Food Writer, Journalist, Broadcaster, Consultant

Anissa focuses on the cuisines and culinary heritage of the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa. Born and raised between Beirut, Lebanon, and Mashta el-Helou, Syria, she knows the Mediterranean as only a well-traveled native can.  She was listed in 2013 in the Arabian Business Magazine as one of the “100 Most Powerful Arab Women” and on the “500 Most Influential Arabs”. 

Ms. Helou is the author of numerous award-winning cookbooks including Sweet Middle East, Levant, The Fifth Quarter, An Offal Cookbook; Modern Mezze; Savory Baking from the Mediterranean; Mediterranean Street Food; Café Morocco; and Lebanese Cuisine.

Her newest book, Feast: The Food of the Islamic World, was published to great acclaim by Ecco in May 2018 and has been short-listed for the very prestigious Art of Eating award. Ms. Helou, who is fluent in English, French, Arabic and so to be Italian, divides her time between Sicily where she will eventually have a teaching kitchen and London.