Hello & marhaba, I’m Bethany, a Lebanese-American; born in Houston and raised in Lebanon, I have spent the last 8 years traveling before calling Brighton, UK my home. Growing up in Lebanon, I spent a lot of time watching and learning via osmosis the art of Middle Eastern food preparation, cooking and preserving from my grandmother, dad and aunties. During the Lebanese civil war, in the mid eighties, we retreated into the mountains where my father set up an eclectic farm on the ancestral land. For a great part of my childhood I helped to water orchards, harvest fruits and vegetables, chase after chickens, make cheese and even milk the odd cow. This has influenced and encouraged me to learn and understand more about the culture, history, and importance behind the food processes with the goal of one day setting up a business venture around it.

I launched this blog in 2008 upon my arrival to the U.K. Prior to that I was living in Maui, Hawaii where I worked as the Operations Manager of Lahaina Store Grille and Oyster Bar. I have also lived and worked in Miami, Montreal, Houston and Dubai amongst other places.

I work as a recipe developer, freelance food and travel writer, and food photographer. I also lead culinary tours across Lebanon as well as organise Food Blogger Connect, Europe’s first and only conference and forum for food bloggers. I am fluent in English, Arabic and French.

Some of my work and clients include:

Ten page feature on Lebanon for Food & Travel magazine, February 2011

Guest food blogger on several episodes of BBC’s Market Kitchen: Big Adventure

Guest chef at Tawlet restaurant

Recipe development and food photography for good to know Recipes

Recipe development and food photography for Fatafeat magazine-the Middle East’s largest food channel and magazine

Food photography and styling for Lebanese Cuisine cookbook (re-published early 2011) by Dar El-Ilm Lilmalayin

Photography for Half Wine

For press, recipes and other mentions please visit the press page

For a selection of my photography visit the portfolio page

Hire me

I am available for recipe development, food photography and styling, food related articles or commentary, culinary related reviews, restaurant consulting services (menu development) as well as cookery demonstrations. For more information please contact me.

Contact me

Email: bethany@dirtykitchensecrets.com

The contents of this website are protected under a creative commons license. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. If you want to use any of the photography or recipes then please contact me and always be sure to link back.

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