In Lebnani, chef Jad Youssef celebrates the warmth and generosity of Lebanese. Lebnani captures the spirit of Lebanon through its food. With its evocative imagery and heartfelt storytelling, this debut is both a love letter to a country and a celebration of how every dish tells a story and every meal brings people together.

In Lebnani, celebrated chef Jad Youssef invites readers to experience the warmth, generosity and soul of Lebanese cooking through recipes passed down through generations of his family. In his debut book, Jad returns to the dishes and memories that shaped his life in Beirut and beyond, celebrating Lebanese food as it is truly lived and eaten. Featuring 84 authentic recipes from his family's kitchen in Lebanon and his award-winning restaurant Lebnani in Surrey, 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) - reflecting the meals and moments that shape Lebanese identity. Family stories are woven throughout, tracing how food sustained Lebanese families through conflict, change and celebration. From gathering wild za'atar to mornings spent collecting trays of freshly baked mana'eesh, Jad's memories root Lebanese cuisine in gratitude, connection and resilience. With evocative imagery and heartfelt storytelling, Lebnani offers a rich portrait of a culture where food, memory and family life are deeply intertwined. AUTHOR: 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 was born in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War, the youngest of six siblings. 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. After early work in local hotels and restaurants, he moved to Oslo in 2000 as Head Chef at Jeppe Restaurant, later relocating to London to lead the kitchen at Fakhreldine in Piccadilly and serve as Executive Chef at the Levant Group. In 2009, Youssef founded Yalla Yalla in Soho, one of London's first Lebanese street food restaurants, expanding to Fitzrovia and Shoreditch in the following years. The restaurant received wide critical attention and achieved a cult following. After time in Hong Kong, Youssef and his wife Aga returned to the UK to open Lebnani in Reigate, Surrey, in 2020. The restaurant was named Best Restaurant in Surrey by Muddy Stilettos in 2024, an AA Rosette in May 2025 and in October Be Inclusive Hospitality winner of the Middle Eastern Food Award. Jad has also appeared at Meatopia, Taste of London and Taste of Hong Kong, on BBC's Masterchef and worked with Miele amongst many more.

Details

ISBN13: 9781915538451
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 216
Edition:
Publication Date:
Publisher: Meze Publishing
Publication City, Country: Sheffield, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 24.6(H)x18.9(L)1000
Weight (gm): 1000

Author Biography

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 was born in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War, the youngest of six siblings. 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. After early work in local hotels and restaurants, he moved to Oslo in 2000 as Head Chef at Jeppe Restaurant, later relocating to London to lead the kitchen at Fakhreldine in Piccadilly and serve as Executive Chef at the Levant Group.

In 2009, Youssef founded Yalla Yalla in Soho, one of London's first Lebanese street food restaurants, expanding to Fitzrovia and Shoreditch in the following years. The restaurant received wide critical attention and achieved a cult following.

After time in Hong Kong, Youssef and his wife Aga returned to the UK to open Lebnani in Reigate, Surrey, in 2020. The restaurant was named Best Restaurant in Surrey by Muddy Stilettos in 2024, an AA Rosette in May 2025 and in October Be Inclusive Hospitality winner of the Middle Eastern Food Award. Jad has also appeared at Meatopia, Taste of London and Taste of Hong Kong, on BBC's Masterchef and worked with Miele amongst many more.

Reviews

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

"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

"Lebnani is a beautiful personal journey into the heart of Lebanese cooking, culture, and community. A thrilling book of fresh, inviting, soul-nourishing recipes that I can't wait to cook from." - Gurdeep Loyal