grew up in a very traditional Syrian household. Today the sisters, who own Sydney Syrian diner , still have a large family contingent living in Syria so it was a no-brainer for them to get involved with this year’s campaign.
“The majority of them have been physically safe over the last seven years, however a couple of them have had to leave Syria to start over,” Sharon tells SBS. “For us, any one of our uncles, aunts, cousins or friends could have been lost during this period and so we believe that we must not forget the birthplace of our parents and their parents."
The Salloum sisters are joining more than 20 other culinary stars from across the country for the dinner, which is supporting UNICEF’s lifesaving work for children in Syria. Hosted by UNICEF Australia Ambassador and SBS’s host , this year’s cook-up is happening at on Monday 18 June.
Carol and Sharon Salloum of Almond Bar were raised in a traditional Syrian household. They will be cooking at this year's #CookForSyria. Source: Almond Bar
“It's a natural thing to mentally or intellectually dissociate ourselves from a child's suffering that we see on TV, or read in the news, when we know it's happening in a far away place,” Liaw tells SBS. “But when we experience something firsthand like talking to people or eating food, we finally understand that it's real.”
Liaw travelled to Jordan earlier this year to meet Syrian children and their families living in a Za’atari Refugee Camp, 15km from the Syrian border.
Adam Liaw, dancing with some of the children in the Zaatari camp. Source: UNICEF Australia
“The thing that really stood out for me talking to the children was that almost all of them wanted to be teachers when they grew up. I found it a bit strange at first, but it dawned on me that… their teachers were the only employed people they saw regularly and I realised that want they really wanted was a future.
“For them, teaching was the only future they could imagine. For them, teaching was hope.”
Food is the universal thread that connects us all and offers the best tool for understanding new cultures, Liaw says.
“#CookForSyria is a brilliant initiative because it makes us feel what we already know.”
A global movement that’s already raised more than AUD $1 million and counting, #CookForSyria hopes to encourage everyone from top chefs to home cooks to help raise vital funds for children affected by the conflict in Syria Throughout the month of June, bakers, restaurateurs, cafe operators and chefs the country over are also invited to take part by putting a Syrian-inspired spin on one of their signature dishes and donating $5 from each sale.
An all-star lineup of chef talent from around the country have been confirmed for this year's event. Source: Nikki To
Other chefs joining the Salloum sisters to cook this year include Kylie Kwong (Billy Kwong), Andy Bowdy (Saga), Mark LaBrooy and Food Network Australia's (Three Blue Ducks), Palisa Anderson (Chat Thai), Josh & Julie Niland (Saint Peter), Lennox Hastie (Firedoor), James Viles (Biota), and Africaola’s Duncan Welgemoed and Imogen Czulowski.
“Diners can expect a mind-blowing dinner from a pretty amazing room full of talent,” says Carol. “What I love about this dinner is that we can present the traditional Syrian dish beside the masterpieces of the incredible chefs we are working with, who have all been given the task of utilising the flavours of Syria in their dishes. It’s pretty cool to see what all the guys come up with for the night.”
Three Blue Ducks, Rosebery NSW
Tickets are $280 plus booking fee, including canapes, cocktails on arrival and a shared Syrian-inspired feast and wines.
