Jad Youssef with Lebnani

Lebanese Cookery Demo, Talk & Tastings

'In these recipes, Jad offers more than flavour - he shares his experiences and warmth. This book is true celebration of Lebanese home cooking, grounded in memories and full of heart. Yalla, let's cook from it' Sami Tamimi

From gathering wild za'atar to mornings spent collecting trays of freshly baked mana'eesh, Jad Youssef's memories root Lebanese cuisine in gratitude, connection and resilience.

In Lebnani, chef Jad Youssef invites readers to experience the warmth, generosity and soul of Lebanese cooking through recipes passed down through generations of his family. He returns to the dishes and memories that shaped his life in Beirut and beyond. Featuring authentic recipes from his family's kitchen in Lebanon and his award-winning restaurant Lebnani, the book reveals secret spice blends, time-honoured techniques and beloved family dishes that bring people together around the table.

Chapters echo the rhythm of daily life - Lebanese Mornings, Mezza at Home, Tabkha (everyday meals), Mashawi (grills), Sandwiche (street wraps), Helweyet (sweets) and Namlieh (the pantry) - the meals and moments that shape Lebanese identity. Family stories are woven throughout, tracing how food sustained Lebanese families through conflict, change and celebration.

With evocative imagery and heartfelt storytelling, Lebnani offers a rich portrait of a culture where food, memory and family life are deeply intertwined.

'A thrilling book of fresh, inviting, soul-nourishing recipes' Gurdeep Loyal

'Each page has intention and the recipes get to the heart of Lebanese cookery in a way I have never seen before' Melissa Thompson

Jad Youssef is chef patron of the award-winning Lebnani in Reigate, Surrey which Jay Rayner highly praised 'One taste of its gloriously zingy Lebanese flavours and you know you're in the right place'

Jad Youssef was born in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War. He learnt to cook in his mother Khadija's kitchen and in his father's pastry shop before training at the Ecole Hoteliere in Beirut. He was Head Chef at Jeppe Restaurant, Oslo and later leading the kitchen at Fakhreldine, London.

He founded Yalla Yalla, one of London's first Lebanese street food restaurants, expanding to Fitzrovia and Shoreditch in the following years. Youssef and his wife Aga now run the award winning Lebnani.