HQ gobbles up rights to first cookbook from Al Arnab

HQ has gobbled up the rights to the first cookbook from chef Imad Al Arnab.

Louise McKeever, editorial director, acquired world all language rights to Imad’s Syrian Kitchen: A delicious culinary love letter from Damascus to London from Rachel Mills at Rachel Mills Literary. It will publish in July 2023. 

The publisher said: “Imad’s Syrian Kitchen will be a personal collection of more than 100 delicious and imaginative recipes that will welcome everyone into the home kitchen of a celebrated Syrian chef. A celebration of flavours, the recipes are all accessible, straightforward and completely unforgettable. Before the war in Syria, Imad had multiple restaurants in Damascus, but when these were destroyed, he had to leave his home and travel as a refugee to London. He found a welcoming new home in the UK, and now has a much-loved restaurant in London, which won GQ’s ‘Breakthrough Restaurant of the Year’ award in 2022. This book will weave Imad’s unique and compelling story with recipes that are inspired by his love of his two homes: Damascus and London.” 

Al Arnab said: “This book is a love letter from my lost city, Damascus, to the world – it’s a message of hope, that good can come from even the darkest of times, and a reminder that food can always bring us together. I’m so excited to share the delicious Syrian cuisine of my homeland, and celebrate the restaurant in my adoptive city London, and everyone who comes to find us here.”

McKeever added: “As soon as we visited Imad’s restaurant, we knew HQ had to be his publisher. Imad’s cooking is sensational and his love for the food of Damascus is palpable. Here, Imad will introduce us to memorable flavours and teach us how to cook Syrian food at home, simply. He will also share his incredible personal story and demonstrates that food has the power to bring us all together.”