<p>In today's episode, we're joined by the brilliant Nathalie Moukarzel, co-owner of Fat Macy's and Sohaila Restaurant. Fat Macy's is a social enterprise in East London that provides culinary and hospitality training, one-on-one support, and access to a rental deposit for individuals looking to move on from temporary accommodation. Nathalie, a trained chef with experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, shares her journey of passion, resilience, and profound commitment to creating social impact through food. We delve into her personal story, the inspirations behind her Lebanese-inspired cooking, and how she uses food as a powerful force for change.</p><br><p>@sohailarestaurant</p><p><a href="https://sohailarestaurant.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://sohailarestaurant.com</a></p><p>@fatmacys</p><p><a href="https://www.fatmacys.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.fatmacys.org</a></p><p><br></p><h3>Key Takeaways</h3><ul><li><strong>Food as a Connection to Heritage and Grief:</strong>&nbsp;Nathalie shares how cooking Lebanese food became a vital way for her to process the grief of losing her father at a young age. It allowed her to embrace her heritage and maintain a connection with him in a positive and meaningful way.</li><li><strong>The Power of Simple, Accessible Food:</strong>&nbsp;While working in an art gallery in Berlin, Nathalie found immense satisfaction in cooking simple, healthy, and delicious Middle Eastern-inspired meals for the staff. This experience solidified her confidence and highlighted the value of making good food that is accessible and well-received.</li><li><strong>Social Enterprise in Hospitality:</strong>&nbsp;Fat Macy's has a unique model where trainees, who are living in temporary accommodation, gain hospitality skills. For every hour they train, money is contributed to a grant they can later use for a housing deposit, providing a tangible pathway out of the hostel system.</li><li><strong>Finding a Calling Unexpectedly:</strong>&nbsp;Nathalie's path to the culinary world was not linear; it included a degree in theatre and a brief, serious stint at a clowning school in Paris before she fully committed to her passion for working in restaurants.</li></ul><h3>Episode Highlights</h3><ul><li><strong>04:00:</strong>&nbsp;Nathalie discusses how her Lebanese father was a significant influence on her life and how the family home was steeped in Lebanese food and culture.</li><li><strong>15:00:</strong>&nbsp;While working in Berlin, a head chef who loved making desserts inspired Nathalie to engage with a part of the kitchen she was previously impatient with, showing her a more fun and accessible side to the craft.</li><li><strong>24:00:</strong>&nbsp;Nathalie explains the mission of Fat Macy's, a social enterprise she co-owns with her business partner Meg, which supports people experiencing homelessness by providing culinary training that helps them save for a housing deposit.</li><li><strong>33:00:</strong>&nbsp;A vivid memory of visiting Lebanon, where the first thing she could eat after a serious illness was a specific type of village bread, a flavour and memory that remains deeply important to her.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with Dixie:</strong></p><p>Instagram: ⁠@dixierocksfood</p><p>Website: ⁠https://dixierocksfood.substack.com/</p><p>Substack:&nbsp;<a href="https://rootsfoodtalks.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://rootsfoodtalks.substack.com/</a></p><br><p>This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by&nbsp;Lucy Lucraft (<a href="http://lucylucraft.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lucylucraft.co.uk</a>&nbsp;)</p><p>If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!</p><p><strong>Connect with Dixie:</strong></p><p>Instagram: ⁠@dixierocksfood</p><p>Website: ⁠https://dixierocksfood.substack.com/</p><p>Substack:&nbsp;<a href="https://rootsfoodtalks.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://rootsfoodtalks.substack.com/</a></p><br><p>This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by&nbsp;Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk)</p><p>If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>