Alarnab, who has been cooking in London for the past four years at a series supper clubs, including a two-week pop up in Bethnal Green, and charity events, will launch Imad’s Syrian Kitchen in November.
He is looking to raise £50,000 through crowdfunding to support his new venture.
The chef and entrepreneur previously ran two successful restaurants and a cafe and chain of juice bars in Damascus but his businesses were destroyed during the Syrian Civil War. In July 2015, he fled Syria and made his way through Europe eventually arriving in London in October 2015. The following year he brought his family over to England.
Alarnab sought refugee status in the UK, initially working as a car salesman before returning to his passion for food and cooking.
Imad’s Syrian Kitchen will serve a selection of Syrian mezze, including falafel, as well as main and sharing dishes such as fattet macdous - crispy baby aubergine stuffed with lamb, topped with flatbread and a garlic cumin sauce; watermelon, halloumi and za’atar salad; hamsit lahem – slow cooked marinated lamb shoulder; and anginaar - roasted artichoke, stuffed with vegetables.”
“After four years I am so very excited that I am now finally going to open my own restaurant in the heart of London, the city I and my family now call home,” he says.
“Losing my restaurants in Damascus was devastating, but I am so happy that I can now bring my Syrian cooking to Kingly Court in Soho, to the people of London who have supported me so much over the last few years. Thank you to you all and I cannot wait to welcome you to my new venture, this is a dream come true.”
Imad’s Syrian Kitchen will donate £1 from every bill to refugee charity Choose Love.