ABOUT FADI
Fadi Kattan is a Palestinian French chef, author and hotelier whose work explores the richness of Palestinian culinary traditions, the diversity of the land and the stories of the people who cultivate it.
Born into a Bethlehem Palestinian family shaped by generations of cultural exchange, Fadi grew up between the French influences of his maternal family and the British traditions of his paternal family. Food was always part of this world, from the family table and the kitchens of his grandmothers to the markets, farms and seasonal rhythms of Palestine.
After studying hotel management at the Institut Vatel and working in Paris and London, Fadi returned to Bethlehem to join the family business. Fifteen years later, he turned towards the kitchen, bringing together his experience in hospitality, his curiosity about food and wine and his deep attachment to Palestinian ingredients and culinary heritage.
In 2015, he opened Fawda in Bethlehem, developing a contemporary expression of Palestinian cuisine rooted in local produce, traditional techniques and the knowledge of farmers, artisans and home cooks. His cooking draws on the remarkable diversity of Palestinian terroirs, from the hills and olive groves to the coastal plains and the Jordan valley.
His work has since expanded beyond Bethlehem. In 2023, he co-founded akub with Rasha Khouri in London's Notting Hill, creating a restaurant that celebrates Palestinian flavours and hospitality.
In Toronto, he partnered with Nicole Mankinen to establish Louf, a restaurant bringing Palestinian food, culture and hospitality to the city's diverse culinary landscape.
Alongside his restaurants, Fadi is the author of Bethlehem, a cookbook that brings together recipes, people and stories from his hometown and across Palestine. His forthcoming book Ya Palestine, continues this exploration of food, wine and the cultural landscapes of the land.
Together with sommelier Anna Patrowicz, Fadi co-founded Nabeeth, a business dedicated to importing and distributing Palestinian wines and beers in the United Kingdom. Nabeeth introduces British restaurants, retailers and consumers to the diversity and quality of Palestinian wines and beers, while supporting the producers behind them.
In Bethlehem, Fadi has also collaborated with Wonder Cabinet, the cultural and creative space founded by architects, Elias and Yousef Anastas. He developed its bar food menu, inspired by Palestinian ingredients to create a contemporary offering in dialogue with the space's artistic program.
Fadi's storytelling also extends to media. In Teta's kitchen, he travels across Palestine, exploring regional recipes, family traditions and the people who preserve them. His radio programme and podcast, Sabah Al-Yasmine, brings together conversations about food, culture and everyday life.
In Bethlehem, Fadi also co-founded Kassa with Elizabeth Kassis, a boutique hotel rooted in the city's architectural heritage and traditions of hospitality. Bringing together the character of a historic Bethlehem home with a contemporary approach to welcoming guests, Kassa offers an intimate experience of the city and its culture.
Across his restaurants, books, wines and cultural projects, Fadi's work remains anchored in Bethlehem and in the landscapes, people and stories of Palestine. Whether cooking, writing or creating spaces for others to gather, he continues to explore how food can connect places, generations and cultures, while remaining deeply rooted in the land from which it comes.
