Palestinians have long been criminalized for foraging from their own land. Za’atar; an ancestral blend of wild thyme, sesame seeds, sumac, and salt—is more than a spice; it is memory, resistance, and connection to the Land.
For generations, Palestinians have faced fines, surveillance, and even arrest for harvesting native plants like wild za’atar and ‘akkoub. These practices that were once simple acts of sustenance and tradition.
This workshop is more than cooking. Manaeesh is a flat bread with Za’atar spices.
Together, we will prepare za’atar man’eesh while also reflecting on the parts of ourselves that have been labeled, restricted, criminalized or pushed into hiding. Through this process, we’ll begin to unlearn shame and reconnect with what was never meant to be taken from us.
By the end of our time together, you’ll leave not only with something nourishing to eat, but with a deeper understanding of the parts of you that were always worthy and never deserving of ridicule, silence, or erasure.
This is a donation-based event - all proceeds will be donated to We Feed Gaza.
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El Mukhtar is the stage name and business identity of Samer Ghrawi, a queer Palestinian and Syrian artist, chef, and healing facilitator whose work lives at the intersection of food, culture, recovery, and community care.
For years, Samer has worked within substance use recovery and behavioral health settings, supporting individuals navigating addiction, trauma, mental health challenges, and life transitions. Alongside his clinical and community-based experience, he also spent years as a facility chef within psychiatric and treatment environments, witnessing firsthand how nourishment, routine, dignity, and human connection can become powerful tools for healing.
Through El Mukhtar LLC, he brings these worlds together, offering cooking experiences that go far beyond recipes. Rooted in Palestinian and Syrian hospitality, ancestral storytelling, and trauma-informed care, El Mukhtar creates spaces where food becomes a pathway to grounding, self-expression, cultural connection, and recovery.
Whether in the kitchen, on stage, or in community, El Mukhtar believes healing begins when people feel seen, fed, and safe.