Bayrut

Hisham Assaadis a Lebanese cookbook author and chef, food stylist, and photographer who shares recipes and stories on his blog, Cookin5m2. Raised in a food-loving family who were expelled to Lebanon from their village in Palestine in 1948, Hisham grew up in Dbayeh, a Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of Beirut. He learned about Levantine food by watching his mother (a talented home cook) and father (from a family of butchers) in the kitchen. They bestowed the basics on him and he took it from there. Hisham brings his heritage as part of the Palestinian refugees to bear on recipes in danger of being lost to history or cultural appropriation, preserving them for future generations. He has worked as a guide on boutique food tours of Beirut and the surrounding countryside for Taste Lebanon and is a frequent guest chef at local restaurants and festivals. He also works as a humanitarian clown with Clown Me In, a local NGO that seeks to democratise the arts and go where love and laughter is needed. His work has been featured in print and online media as well as on television and radio, including a weekly radio feature with a well-known Lebanese host, giving culinary tips and recipes since 2020. Hisham’s books include Bayrut: Recipes from the heart of a Lebanese city kitchen republished by Smith Street Books in 2025 and Taboon: Sweet & Savoury Delights from the Lebanese Bakery, published by Smith Street Books in 2024.

"The energy, diversity and intoxicating food culture of Lebanon’s vibrant capital Beirut (aka, Bayrut), make it one of the most incredible cities in the Middle East. Famed for its varied, flavourful dishes that emphasize whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood, Beirut is a true foodies paradise." —EAT YOUR BOOKS