Sahtain is an Arabic expression shared around the table, similar to bon appétit. It means a wish for “double health” — that you enjoy your food before, during, and after the meal. After surviving breast cancer at 25, that meaning became deeply personal.

Nunu is my family nickname, and together, Sahtain Nunu is a love letter to the food, stories, and traditions that shaped me.

I grew up in a bicultural household in the U.S. and spent part of my life as an expat in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where I learned the beauty of breaking bread with family and friends. My love of food became professional almost by accident after more than 20 years working for a major international hotel company.

Today, you’ll most often find me in the kitchen carrying forward the cooking legacy of my American grandmother and my Middle Eastern Tayta — sharing recipes rooted in heritage, hospitality, healing, and joy.