Bethany Kehdy

Bethany Kehdy is an award-winning Middle Eastern chef and best-selling cookbook author. Hailed as “a new champion of Middle Eastern food” by none other than Yotam Ottolenghi, Bethany has long been credited for “demystifying Middle Eastern cuisine” via her blog (launched in 2008) and is highly-regarded as a culinary ambassador for Lebanon and the region. Bethany’s debut cookbook on Middle Eastern cuisine entitled The Jewelled Kitchen won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award, and was highlighted in the New York Times as one of the notable cookbooks for 2013.

Influenced by her memories and experience of growing up in Lebanon, Bethany’s recipes and cookbooks bring readers and cooks an honest reflection of this rich and intricate culinary heritage. Her writing is peppered with thought-provoking history, lineage and etymology which inspires her unique cooking approach; rooted yet inventive and accessible for everyday cooking.

Her latest release is the The Jewelled Table, which sways from mezze mania to introduce readers to the way Middle Eastern's really cook, eat and entertain in the Middle East.

A former Miss Lebanon (2002), Bethany is the founder of Taste Lebanon, a boutique culinary tour company in Lebanon, Baraka food range and Mawsam Swinging Supperclubs. Fluent in English, Arabic and French, she regularly appears on television both in the Middle East and the UK on shows such Sunday Brunch, Market Kitchen: Big Adventure and Perfect. Bethany as albs the Mentor on The Taste Arabia. Her work has been featured in many international publications including Forbes, CNN Travel, Conde Nast Traveller, Bon Appetit, and countless others.

Bethany lives and works between Beirut, Lebanon and London, England.