World Day for Cultural Diversity with Migrateful Cookery Classes

In recognition of World Day for Cultural Diversity,  we've partnered with Migrateful, an organisation that runs cooking classes led by refugees and migrants. We met Migrateful, pre-pandemic, at a Breaking Barriers event and we loved their mission of empowering and celebrating their chefs on their journey to employment and independence. With a mission so delicious and purposeful, we couldn't wait to have them join us for one of our social events.

Today, their expert chefs join us for live cooking demonstrations of simple dishes traditional to their culture. Lists of ingredients were provided in advance for those wanting to cook-a-long with the show, however, our employees were equally welcome to come to watch and discover flavours and techniques they may not be familiar with. With Syrian chef Amani teaching us how to make Mosakaa & Fattoush (vegetarian) and Bangladeshi chef Nahida showing how to make Pakoras with a mint chilli sauce (vegetarian). 

A few words from Chef Nahida:

Hello! My name is Nahida and I’m from Bangladesh! I was brought up surrounded by Bengali cooking, which explores so many amazing flavours and so many exotic spices. Migrateful has given me the chance to meet people outside the Bengali community and to share my love of cooking.

I’m so happy teaching my recipes in Migrateful classes. Each class is different and I love spending time with people from a variety of backgrounds. It has made me proud to see them enjoying my food. Now I feel respected as a chef. Migrateful has given me the confidence and help to start my own catering company.

World Day for Cultural Diversity was the perfect opportunity for our team at Reward Gateway to Think Global outside of our office walls and really come out of our comfort zone by trying some new recipes. Plus, who doesn't love bonding over food and shared learning!

And we're not the only ones loving Migrateful. Since it was set up in 2017, by Founder and CEO Jess Thompson, Migrateful has successfully supported over 85 chefs from 20 different countries around the world by running 120 classes each month! Each chef has undergone a 12-week training programme taking them from passionate home cooks to professional cookery class teachers. They help to build confidence, perfect language skills and share their knowledge and stories with the community. 

A few words from Chef Amani:

I am Amani, an Arab from Aleppo, Syria. I live with my mother and my younger sisters. I left Syria in 2013 when I lost my father and brother in the war and we fled to Lebanon and stayed there for six years, which were hard and difficult years. I worked there more than one job and studied, and then we applied to travel to the United Kingdom and it was approved after many years of waiting.

When I came to the UK, I started to learn the English language. I started out like a butterfly- I was locked up and then saw freedom. Then I got a job with Kent Refugees Action Network and I used to help them with cooking sometimes. One day I cooked with my mother and some students for about 60 people, and this was my first step in my dream of being a great chef.

I love writing and I would like to publish a special book in my name and tell about what I have suffered from the war. I love cooking because I see cooking is the path to kindness and love, for food is a language that no one can hear except generous people. My teacher proposed this institution to teach cooking and I agreed to join. I am happy and grateful for my joining Migrateful because I can now see my dream clearly with them.