I’m bringing some of my favourite Palestinian recipes together with a few new (to me) dishes for this one-off supper to raise money to support the people of Gaza. All the profits from this event will be donated to World Central Kitchen, I will just be deducting the cost of ingredients and booking fees. World Central Kitchen are working on the ground to provide clean drinking water and food to the people of Gaza. Despite significant restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, World Central Kitchen have already delivered over 130 million meals to people in Palestine.
The venue is being provided for free by Emma at Essential Nature Yoga, I’m keeping costs down by cooking a vegetarian menu (deliciously vegetarian) and I’m hoping to get a few volunteers to help in the kitchen - thanks already to Emma & Shannon who have agreed to help for free! If you think you could help out on Wednesday 20th or Thursday 21st for a few hours, rather than buy a ticket just drop me an email on erin@theedibleflower.com.
I’m feeling absolutely helpless in the face of the atrocities that are happening to the people of Gaza. It is unacceptable on every level to starve people, but what is happening to civilians - helpless children, elderly people, the disempowered - is utterly inhumane. Monstrous even! As a cook, someone who works with food every day, who thinks about it all the time and expects to go to shops and suppliers and have every single thing I desire to cook with and eat at my fingertips, I feel overwhelmingly guilty and sad and angry that the people in Palestine are being denied this human right! The right to life and sustenance and health and culture and peace. How can anyone have peace with an empty belly? Or knowing their children are going to sleep with empty bellies.
Hosting a dinner to raise money for starving people does feel very complicated - but I feel like this is the best way I can use my knowledge and skills to make a difference - to raise money and to celebrate the beautiful culture that is being eradicated without mercy and humanity.
I’ve long loved the food of the Levant and many dishes are staples in my repetorie and on supper club menus. I’ve been inspired by travels and cooking classes in Jordan, my chef friend Vero, who spent lots of time in Palestine, and who first taught me to make falafels and the amazing Palestinian chefs Sammi Tamimi and Joudie Kalla whose recipes are both inspiring and indispensable!
I’ll be hosting this dinner in the beautiful Mother of the Woods Retreat. Located between Saintfield and Lisburn this is a gorgeous Georgian house and retreat centre owned and run by Essential Nature Yoga.
Table for Palestine @ Mother of the Woods Retreat
Thursday 21st August 2025
On arrival:
Raspberry, rose & lemon iced tea
Spinach, feta & mint filo parcels
The main event:
Tabbouleh stuffed vine leaves with herbs & tomato
Falafel with green tahini sauce
Battata hara - Coriander & garlic potatoes
Green beans with spicy tomatoes & olive oil
Watermelon & fried halloumi salad with mint, chilli & olive
Silky smooth houmous with crispy chickpeas
For pudding:
Knafeh Nabulseyeh - Palestinain dessert with crispy kaitaifi pastry, cheese & sugar syrup served with mint tea
The drinks: A non-alcoholic welcome drink will be provided on arrival and there will be water on the table. If you would like anything else to drink this event is BYO so please bring a bottle (or more) of your favourite tipple.
The time: 7pm on Thursday 21st August. If you are planning on booking a taxi or organising a lift we’d suggest organising that for 9.30pm.
The place: Mother of the Woods Retreat, 31 Back Road, Cargacreevy, Lisburn , BT27 6TR (please see the event confirmation email for full details on how to find the venue - but DO NOT go to the Back Road in Drumbo)
The cost: £50 per person (includes booking fees), for a two-course menu plus a few extras. If you want to donate more, that would of course be most welcome.
Seating: You will be seated with other guests. If you are not comfortable sitting with other people then please do not book tickets as unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to seat groups separately.
Dietary Requirements: This menu is suitable for vegetarians. We can cater for vegans & gluten free guests - just let us know when you book. For all other dietary requirements just let us know when you book and we’ll try our absolute best to accommodate you.
Cancellation Policy: We have recently updated our cancellation policy and we now charge an administrative fee for cancellations up to one week in advance of the event. If you cancel less than one week before the event we cannot offer a refund unless we can resell your tickets. All tickets are transferable if you can find another guest to come in your place. For full details of our cancellation policy please click here.