Stories on the Plate
Introduction Tayeb طيبStories on the plate is the art commission by Youngsook Choi, launching at the Art in the Park Festival 2022, hosted by Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture (MKIAC). Tayeb طيبhas evolved around the refugee women’s lived experiences of leaving/making homes, woven through food heritages, cultural knowledge and friendship building. This publication is part of the culmination, alongside the immersive installation and a poetic video essay.
During the Covid-19 isolation, imagination became a part of every meal.
Menu appetizers Kibbeh No Migrain Tea Mhammara
main course Molokhia Maklouba
desserts Vitembua Karkade Tea
Sit We prepared this table with words, with images held behind eyelids, with tastes hanging on the tongues’ memory with laughter
h
e table cloth extends from the living room to the front door, through the garden gates
and onto the street, it runs along the path, past the neighbourhood grocery store, winding along the pomegranate trees in a grandmother’s garden in Afghanistan. It rests perfectly on the waters of Aswan, buries itself in the agricultural soils of Dara’a, perfumes itself with Jasmine in Aleppo, dips into the lakes of Tanzania, rolls on the Welsh hills and brings us together in Milton Keynes.
Appetizer
Kibbeh Last night we made the preparations The tv was loud in the background The meat was kneaded into the bulgur You cannot rush this We sat in a circle Hands remember The muscles know Kibbeh is a serious business!
No More Migraines Tea Migration turns into migraines The journey has been long And it hasn’t really ended The daughters know this The food does not just hold stories The daughters know this The balconies are heavy with herbs Sage and chamomile are reserved for mothers It is not just a new language to learn They have to learn about the sun and the soil And how to stop the mint from drying out The daughters know this The bones are heavy So much time is lost The body remembers the route The body speaks with migraines The daughters know this
Mhammara The morning begins with walking The walk begins with the smell of jasmine Collecting ingredients Planning is essential One bag of walnuts A tub of pomegranate molasses A hello to Mr Shopkeeper An ice cream for the children Still more walking Red pepper paste The onions are heavy The queue is long but the bakery is famous.
Main Course
Molokhia Like language, food travels
Garlic
After migration,
Have you had time to yourself lately?
Some foods taste of loneliness
Immunity
And some taste of intimacy
Vitamin B6
Some foods remind us of patience
Cholesterol Levels
Some are an invitation
Molokhia Plant
An invitation to spend time
How far have you travelled?
An invitation for conversation
Blood Pressure
A familiar language
Calcium
To bring someone to your table
Magnesium
To ask them about their day
Rice
Chicken broth
Has your paper work come through?
How was your day?
Protein
Muscles
Energy
Bones
Blood Sugar Level
Blood Cells
Maklouba Maklouba means upside-down On this table, maklouba is a reminder A reminder that nothing is ever the right way up A new place flips everything on its head And we don’t always know which way up is It takes time to learn about where things begin And where they end It takes time to know How to register at the doctors How to fill in the forms How the systems work And how they don’t work… We don’t know what will become familiar And what will always be strange.
Dessert
Vitembua Sweet bites Coconut, rice, yeast, cardamom On weekends we cooked so our mother wouldn’t Starting again in a new place doesn’t let you rest In the kitchen with my sisters we learnt about co-operation We also learnt that cooking is an exchange An exchange of time for nutrition An exchange of knowledge for warmth
Karkade (Hibiscus Tea) Soaking the hibiscus leaves over night gives the best results Drink a sip Think about the meal we’ve just had together Digest
Workshop We gathered around at the local Turkish restaurant, Meli’s, for the creative workshop of Tayeb. We shared our food memories reflecting various tradition within the cultures that resonated our shared values as refugees settling in a new environment and experiencing difficulties during Covid lockdown. Drawing together the significant dishes we normally would have prepared and shared during the festive season. We created a communal table composed of all sorts of foods and an imaginative dinner that holds so many stories of joy, labour of love and friendship.
With special thanks to: We send our deep gratitude to all our diverse participants, the refugee women from Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia and their supporters. Without their warm presence and generous sharing of the stories, this project wouldn’t have been shaped this far. We thank Waed, Fadiya, Faiza, Nancy and Caroline for bringing in-depth knowledge and home-cooked yumminess to the workshops. Commissioned by
Supported by
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Sit We prepared this table with words, with images held behind eyelids, with tastes hanging on the tongues’ memory with laughter
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