SAVE THE DATE!

A Beautiful Mess is hosting a special dinner event featuring renowned chef Sami Tamimi.

Inspired by the tradition of Mouneh (المونة) from the Al Sham region—the historical region that includes present-day Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria—the evening celebrates the art of cooking from the pantry: using ingredients that have been preserved at the height of the season through drying, fermenting, pickling, curing, and storing in oil.

Long before refrigeration and year-round supermarkets, families across the Al Sham region stocked their pantries after each harvest to ensure they had nutritious food throughout the year. This tradition, known as Mouneh, was not simply about preserving ingredients—it was about preserving knowledge, family recipes, hospitality, and memories. Preparing Mouneh was a communal ritual that brought generations together around food.

Today, this tradition resonates strongly with contemporary ideas about seasonal cooking, sustainability, reducing food waste, and reconnecting with local food cultures. While Mouneh is deeply rooted in the culinary traditions of the Al Sham region, the concept of cooking from a well-stocked pantry is universal, making it an accessible and inspiring story for a wide audience.

More details and tickets coming soon.

The Dinner Experience

Throughout the evening, Chef Sami Tamimi will guide guests through a menu centered on pantry staples and the traditions of Mouneh. Each course will highlight preserved flavors and seasonal ingredients while sharing the stories behind them.

Guests will discover:

• Preserved ingredients and traditional preservation techniques;
• The relationship between food, the seasons, and the land;
• Stories of family traditions, heritage, and migration;
• How Pantry Cooking Remains Relevant in Today’s Kitchens.

Through Sami’s perspective, the evening builds a bridge between the culinary traditions of the Al Sham region and Amsterdam’s diverse audience, demonstrating how food preservation connects cultures around the world.

About Chef Sami Tamimi

Chef Sami Tamimi is a Palestinian chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author known for sharing the flavors and stories of Palestinian cuisine and the broader culinary traditions of the Al Sham region with audiences around the world.

Born in East Jerusalem, Sami’s cooking is deeply rooted in the traditions of his homeland, combining authentic flavors with a contemporary approach to hospitality. He is the co-author of the internationally acclaimed cookbook *Jerusalem*, which won the IACP Cookbook of the Year award in 2013 and received the James Beard Award for International Cookbook in 2013. He is also the co-author of *Falastin*, a celebrated cookbook that explores the richness, history, and diversity of Palestinian food culture. Sami’s latest solo cookbook, *Boustany*, published in 2025, was shortlisted for the 2026 Guild of Food Writers Awards and has been named one of the best cookbooks of 2025 by the *New York Times*.

Through his work, Sami highlights the importance of food as a connection to place, memory, and community. His approach goes beyond recipes—it is about the people, stories, and traditions that give food meaning.

Why A Beautiful Mess

At A Beautiful Mess, we believe food is one of the most powerful ways to bring people together.

“Dinner from the Pantry” reflects many of the values at the heart of our organization:

• celebrating cultural heritage;
• creating a sense of belonging through hospitality;
• sharing stories through food;
• reconnecting with seasonal cooking and traditional knowledge;
• bringing people together around the table.

More than just a dinner, this evening invites guests to discover how the simple act of opening a pantry can reveal generations of stories, craftsmanship, and culture.

More details coming soon