Fatma. Yemen. Foodie. Friend. Passion. 

The heart and mind behind ‘Meet Me at Fatma’s’, London’s first Yemeni pop-up brunch’

I first met Fatma when many years ago during our Global Village program in Lehigh University, Pennsylvania. It’s been so long, but If I could have one word to describe my fondest memory of Fatma during the best 6 weeks o my life, it would be:

SAMOSAS

(Don’t laugh, Fatma) I can explain. Here’s why.

One of the many programs we had to participate during that summer was Culture Night. 100 interns from different countries had to cook traditional dishes from their homeland. I chose to make Chicken Curry (for the first time of my life lol) and Fatma made Samosas.

…and it wasn’t just any samosa, it was FATMA’S Samosa. The reason why her samosas are still so deeply imprinted in my mind is because the night before our food presentation, I went to to common kitchen to get a drink, I saw her sitting all by herself at the corner of the room, folding what appeared to be like curry puffs. Curious to know why she was up so late and in the kitchen all by herself, I went up to her to have a look.

There was a bowl of cooked mince meat with caramelised onions, it smelled so good I honestly felt like taking a spoon and trying it out. The fragrant somehow reminded me so much about the food back at home. For a moment I felt like I was somewhere familiar. The best part of being in the kitchen that night was seeing how Fatma assembled her samosas together. She was so articulate and careful it reminded me of the way new parent would hold their baby. The way Fatma scooped the caramelised minced meat (I was already drooling at this point) into the phyllo sheet made me realise that whatever she planned on presenting during Culture Night meant a lot to her. Fatma wanted everyone to enjoy the cuisine, she cared about it. And it all came from the heart.  Her heart.

To be honest, I think Fatma Al Baiti is a person no one can hate, she’s one of those people that you know you just have to love. A person that escapes enemies. That’s just her. She was born to be loved.

And this is her story.

Who is Fatma and what’s the story behind Meet me at Fatma’s?

I’m a Yemeni food blogger who strongly believes that food promotes connection. I started Meet me at Fatma’s as an extension of my brand and food project Fatma vs Food. I have always been eager to try unknown cuisines of the world.

When I arrived in London in 2014 to pursue my studies, I quickly noticed that Yemeni food is something hardly anyone knew about. I first introduced my friends to it by inviting them to my home but I never thought of doing something that invites people to be introduced to my home country’s cuisine at a much larger scale.

When she realised that Accounting wasn’t really her thing (is it ever anyone’s thing?), she completed her Masters Degree in Social Entrepreneurship and worked as a civil servant. Before Meet me at Fatmas was conceived, Fatma documented her food adventures other vlogs which was nothing short of entertaining.

I started making videos on Youtube because I enjoy being on camera and I love talking about food. Making videos on Youtube has also made me realise how much I enjoy editing. It’s where I get to be my creative self.

In 2018, I joined a business course after work with several ideas of how to turn my passion for food into profit. One fine day, I heard of a pop-up that ran once a month by a Syrian refugee and that is where I was first inspired to host one myself.

But, there was a problem.

She was neither or a cook nor a chef. Fatma just knew that in order for the wheel to start rolling, she needed to perfect some of her recipes and deliver homemade flavours.

‘My menu was my interpretation of what the cuisine can look like. I combined traditional Yemeni dishes from different regions that never go together…but hey, it worked!’

I relied on my network to support with the event. I hired some cooks to handle the kitchen on the day and my friends volunteered to serve. I think I did well for someone who had no experience in catering. People enjoyed it. That was a reminder that there was more to my story than just food.

Through the Pop up store, Fatma wanted tell a story of Yemeni food over experience of Yemeni traditions. Guests were encouraged to eat with their hands and share a dish with complete strangers.

‘I have always been obsessed with the idea of how food had the power to bring people together’, 

Meet me at Fatma’s is my contribution to my country. What Yemen is going through is devastating. There are many times where I feel completely helpless. I can’t stand the idea of people only knowing about its war. I want to invite others to know that there’s so much more to it.

Food has always been the motivator – during good and dark times. It’s always been the one thing that helped me pull it together. Going to a cafe and having a freshly baked croissant would be a reminder that I will be okay. I would let my mind wander. I would think of the person who baked it, when they baked their first croissant and the number of times they might have failed before perfecting the one I was about to have. If that baker made it, I can make it too!

What were the challenges when you faced when you introduced Meet Me at Fatma’s to the world?

I can’t think of one or two major challenges. I would say it’s a set of challenges. I struggle with time for instance. I find it challenging to do everything at once; run pop-ups regularly, a full time job and blog about food. It can be overwhelming. At the same time, I’m someone who can’t just stick to one thing…life is too short and I would get bored

The biggest lesson in 2018 was accepting that I am a multi-potentialite. I am surrounded my peers who have stuck to being one thing, studied one subject in college and pursed higher education in the same subject followed by that one career path. I envied them for knowing exactly what they wanted to do for the next 30 years. For years, I felt sorry for myself. In 2018, I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and forcing myself into that frame. We can’t all be the same so I decided to embrace it. I also realised that everything different I do is somehow connected. I write, I vlog, I host pop-ups…they’re all part of who I am. I’m still on the journey of embracing my differences. Realising it was the first step.

What are your plans for your pop up store and yourself for 2019 and beyond?

Meet me at Fatma’s is going to be a series of events that take place every few months. I’m excited to do it as part of a foodie’s project of introducing people to the stories of Yemen’s history of trade and migration. My plan is to grow as a brand in general and to return to telling stories about all food, not just my own cuisine.

If she could meet her younger self, Fatma would tell her to love herself more and to not be afraid to show who that person is capable off.

‘You’ll learn more from the being in it than by just dreaming about it’ is my advice for others. For all the budding entrepreneurs out there. The dreamers. The multi-potentialites like myself. To those who feel lost whilst trying to pursue their dreams.

Fatma, whatever awaits you and your pop up store and beyond, there won’t be any room for regrets. Thank you for making me (and many others) realise that everything will only be dream unless we have the courage to pursue it.

The next Meet me at Fatma’s Brunch would be on Sunday 24th March, London. If you, kind readers will be in London on that day, please make your reservations, and give her a big hug for me. Follow her on her beautiful adventure on Instagram page ‘meetmeatfatmas’. You won’t regret it.

‘Food Promotes Connection. It is a door to understanding people & cultures’

Fatma Al Baiti

Photo Credit: Fatma Al Baiti, IG: meetmeatfatmas