Meet the Syrian chef bringing a taste of home to Cambridge

  • Text by Huck
In partnership with 99designs by Vistaprint — By Design is an editorial series, created in collaboration with 99designs by Vistaprint, that celebrates small businesses across the UK and spotlights the power of a strong visual identity. In our latest film, we meet Faraj Alnasser who has brought delicious Syrian cuisine to sleepy Cambridge.

At a young age, Faraj Alnasser was forced to flee his native Syria as conflict swept the country. The subsequent journey was a gruelling one. 

After two years in transience, he finally arrived in Cambridge, aged 19, where a local family took him in. He began learning English and was able to sit his GCSEs, during which time he began regularly cooking for his new hosts, introducing them, and their friends, to Syrian cuisine.

Food was always more than just a pastime for Faraj. The dishes he created were a way in which he could remain connected to his home and, by proxy, his family. As word began to spread locally about his dishes, more people began requesting them. Enthused by the response, he took a place at a London cooking school where he trained under famous chef Yotam Ottolenghi, before securing a job at the highly regarded Honey and Co restaurant in Warren Street. 

When the pandemic hit, Faraj was placed on furlough for six months, before being laid off permanently. However, he wasn’t to be deterred: rather than sit around lamenting what could have been, he took the leap and established his own cooking business – Faraj’s Kitchen – where he sells “delicious vegetarian and vegan Syrian food” to the local Cambridge community from a temporary space in the city. 

Faraj’s Kitchen has been an overwhelming success. Now, with financial support and a design boost from 99designs by Vistaprint, he’s upscaling. It will start with a permanent space from which to prepare his homemade cuisine. There’s no telling where it might end.  

By Design is an editorial series created with 99designs by Vistaprint, in which all participating businesses receive a design makeover, as well as a financial grant to help them embark on their next chapter. Read more stories from the series here.

Take a look at the other 99 small business design makeovers on 99 Days Of Design.

The new Faraj’s Kitchen logo was created by olimpio on 99designs by Vistaprint.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


You might like

Colourful collage of album covers and record sleeves on display in a gallery or museum setting, with glass panels on either side reflecting the vibrant arrangement.
Culture

Largest-Ever Display of UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Opens at Tate Modern

Grief Made Visible — Comprising hundreds of panels made by lovers, friends and chosen family, the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt returns in full for the first time since 1994 – a testament to grief, friendship and the ongoing fight against HIV stigma.

Written by: Ella Glossop

Children playing in a park fountain, black and white image
Culture

The carnival and community of New York’s block parties

Soul of the Summer — Since attending his first street party in Crown Heights two decades ago, photographer Anderson Zaca has spent his summers travelling across New York’s five boroughs, documenting over 300 in the process.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Three smiling women wearing glamorous dresses and fur coats posing together.
Culture

The Getty Center’s first exclusively queer exhibition opens today

$3 Bill: Evidence of Queer Lives — Running until September, it features paintings, ephemera, video and photography to highlight LGBTQ+ histories, culture and people from 1900 to the present day.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Diverse group of people with various expressions and styles, surrounded by bold text and graphics in dark colours.
Culture

Remembering New York’s ’90s gay scene via its vibrant nightclub flyers

Getting In — After coming out in his 20s, David Kennerley became a fixture on the city’s queer scene, while pocketing invites that he picked up along the way. His latest book dives into his rich archive.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Black and white image of several people in suits, some with long hair and unconventional appearances, alongside a large ship or boat model. Text overlaid: "FREAKS AND FINANCES".
Culture

On Alexander Skarsgård’s trousers, The Rehearsal, and the importance of weirdos

Freaks and Finances — In the May edition of our monthly culture newsletter, columnist Emma Garland reflects on the Swedish actor’s Cannes look, Nathan Fielder’s wild ambition, and Jafaican.

Written by: Emma Garland

Grey industrial structure with arches, dog running in foreground.
Culture

Capturing life in the shadows of Canada’s largest oil refinery

The Cloud Factory — Growing up on the fringes of Saint John, New Brunswick, the Irving Oil Refinery was ever present for photographer Chris Donovan. His new photobook explores its lingering impacts on the city’s landscape and people.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.