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British health workers are getting a taste of Iraqi cuisine whilst fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
Philip Juma, the British-Iraqi chef renowned for his pop up supper clubs in London, closed his Borough Market spot last month due to the outbreak of Covid-19, but has kept his apron on and is now cooking for those on the frontlines.
Every Friday the chef delivers nearly 130 portions of Iraq’s most popular dishes to doctors, nurses, and staff workers in hospitals around the capital.
“I’m cooking from my heart,” he told The National.
The initiative started three weeks ago when Mr. Juma found leftover food in his freezer after taking the difficult decision to shut down in Borough.
He had plenty of spices, okra, and saffron to feed tens of health workers.
Mr. Juma, whose specialism is handmade kubbas, otherwise known as Iraqi dumplings, felt he needed to cook for the NHS and to give back to the medical community as they work excruciatingly long hours on the frontline of the outbreak.
Kubba is one of the most famous and authentic Iraqi dishes.
“It’s a nice routine for me and it gives the NHS staff something to look forward to. This is an impetus to make effort and a fuss for these people, these heroes,” he said.
After posting on social media about his plan, Mr Juma received an enthusiastic response.
“I got reactions from people asking if they can help and I wasn’t really requesting any help financially,” he said.
Mr. Juma delivered Bamya, a traditional stew prepared using lamb, okra, and tomatoes as primary ingredients, chicken biryani and dolma to Queen Elizabeth, Guys, St Thomas’s, Chelsea and Westminster, St Georges and St Pancras hospitals.
He cooks the dishes himself, without any help, and the packages usually are split between three to four hospitals.
His most recent delivery was dolma, Iraq’s most famous dish, consisting of various stuffed vegetables with rice and minced meat, slowly cooked in lemon, pomegranate, and tamarind.
It went to St Pancras Hospital.
The chef said that people have been inspired by his dolma making techniques and are now trying it at home.
“It’s the Iraqi spirit, it’s alive,” he said.
The UK has undertaken lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus, with all restaurants, bars and cafes closed. The death toll has passed 21,000 and citizens have been urged to stay home unless they have to travel to work, go out for essential shopping or exercise.
“I want to keep generating love and community. This is what I keep telling myself regardless of my circumstance, I can see it making a difference to people, and this is where I want to be right now,” Mr. Juma said.
Doctors and nurses dealing with the influx of patients said the donated food made a huge difference and described Mr. Juma as the “kindest soul”.
Dina Saleh, a doctor in St Pancras hospital in London, said when Mr. Juma found out she was a medic he delivered “lots of beautifully packaged and delicious chicken biryani rice” to the hospital.
“All the staff from the nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and administrative staff were so grateful and the generous thought brought so many smiles on a Friday afternoon,” Ms. Saleh told The National.
“He is so generous to be doing this when there is so much uncertainty around his own pop-up and business,” Ms. Saleh said.
The health workers are grateful for Mr. Juma’s efforts especially with the pressures they are under at work, Ahmed Twaij, one of the doctors who received the chicken biryani dish told The National.
“They are grateful that food has been brought in, the feedback I was getting as to how amazing the food was, and how grateful they are that this has been brought to them was massive,” Mr. Twaij said.
Mr. Juma said he won’t stop his deliveries until the crisis is over.
“I’m not saying no to donations but there is enough for another two Fridays.”
The chef has set up an online voucher system on his website whereby individuals can donate funds to the NHS.
