In simply six days, Imad Alarnab misplaced his livelihood and residential in a sequence of bombings in Damascus, Syria. It set off a flight for all times and freedom that ultimately introduced Imad, his spouse Betul and their three daughters to the UK.
He says: “I all the time miss Syria, however not the Syria that exists now. Not even the Syria that existed once we lived there. It wasn’t the identical Syria I grew up in, with the face of the cities altering.
“Earlier than the bombings, I had three eating places, 5 juice bars and 4 espresso outlets. However you do not have the posh to consider it for a second. When the bomb went off in our daughter’s bed room, we ran for our lives. I did not take into consideration what I used to be dropping or abandoning as a result of it was a matter of life or dying.”
After settling in London, Imad labored as a automotive wash and pop-up caterer earlier than taking a big gamble in the course of the pandemic and founding his restaurant, Imad’s Syrian Kitchen.
“It was a hit from the beginning, however I believe that is as a result of I really like London a lot, and London loves me too.”
Imad serves a ‘London model’ of conventional Syrian dishes, with a contemporary twist on long-cherished recipes, however employees shortages compelled him to shut the restaurant on Sundays and Mondays.
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“Being away from the restaurant two days per week was an excessive amount of for me, so one Monday a month we held ‘Imad and Buddies’ charity evenings, donating any earnings.”
It was at an occasion for Select Love – a charity that helps refugees and displaced individuals – that Imad got here into contact with Dima Aktaa, a fellow Syrian refugee who misplaced her leg in a bombing on the age of 18.
“Once I first met Dima, I assumed she was nice. She had loads of vitality and persona. She was so constructive and it not solely made me really feel pleased with her and every little thing she has finished, however made me love life much more than I already did.”
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The pair turned shut buddies, with Dima, now 28, hooking up with Betul and Imad’s three daughters, Dana, 19, Iana, 16, and Mariam, 11.
“Each time Dima got here to dinner with us, she stated: ‘wow, that is nice, however my mom does it otherwise’. That may spark dialog and plenty of laughter, as a result of I needed Dima to confess that my meals was higher. I am nonetheless ready for these magic phrases!
“For the reason that starting of my life I’ve been extraordinarily fortunate to be surrounded by superb girls. First my mom, who taught me how you can cook dinner and converse English, then my spouse who has been the love of my life for over 20 years, and our three daughters who I’m so pleased with each day. And now Dima, who brings a lot gentle and positivity, has added one thing to that.”
Though Dima and Imad share a trauma from Syria, they do not typically discuss in regards to the incidents that set them on the trail to satisfy in London. “We solely discuss how you can make it higher. We do not dwell on the previous, and solely take into consideration how our tales and communities can proceed to construct on hope, love and constructive issues.”
Dima Aktaa, 28, misplaced her left leg in 2012 when a bomb exploded on the balcony of her flat in Idlib, western Syria.
She says, “It wasn’t straightforward having my life turned the other way up like that. I used to be bodily energetic, making ready to go to school, and had simply turned 18. However after popping out of the hospital and seeing my previous flat blown to items, I used to be so grateful that my household and I all made it out alive . That bomb had value me my leg, but when I used to be unhappy or cried about it, my leg would not develop again.
“When my mum, older brother, youthful sister and I arrived within the UK we did not know something about the place we’d stay or what our lives could be like however we simply knew it will be safer than Syria.
“After I realized English and continued my research, I met Imad by means of mutual contacts and we obtained collectively to lift cash for Select Love.
“It is unusual to assume {that a} charity night in a restaurant in London introduced us collectively and now we’re extra household than buddies. I discuss to Imad as my brother, and we simply perceive one another.
“Between coaching and faculty, it was laborious to make buddies, however getting along with Imad over dinner helped me regain that sense of group that I liked a lot in Syria.”
Make Imad’s Syrian fish and chips.
This characteristic initially appeared in BBC good meals journal, February 2023.
