Three nights a week, people in the Wellington suburb of Mornington can feast on authentic Middle Eastern food at their community hall.
'People not only love the food, they love the place, too… it has a homey feeling.' says Syrian-born chef Hasan Alwarhani.
With his partner Flora Quintana, Hasan runs the mobile restaurant Damascus at Vogelmorn Hall.
Photo: Supplied
Hasan and Flora (who is originally from Argentina) met in Dubai in 2008.
In 2017, they started up a food truck on Cuba street and always dreamed of opening their own Middle Eastern restaurant.
Fearing the set-up cost and rent, they thought this would take a long time to achieve, but now, thanks to the Vogelmorn community, they're serving up meals at the local hall, which is part of the bowling club.
"The community has had our back and supported us. Honestly, it's been really heartwarming to us."
It was hard to get the word out about Damascus at first, Hasan says, but after the March 2020 lockdown, people in the neighbourhood got more interested in supporting local.
Now some fans come to the restaurant every night they're open.
It's not easy to find good Middle Eastern food in New Zealand and Hasan wants more Kiwis to experience it.
"Middle Eastern is a really fresh cuisine, it's really healthy. You won't feel heavy."
Since leaving home at 14, he's always missed his mother and sister's Syrian cooking.
"They are definitely the inspiration for me - to make me cook and to make me love cooking, as well."
Food as an expression of culture is very important to Hasan and Flora whose grandmother is Syrian.
"With the war that was happening in Syria, we both feel a responsibility in keeping at least the cuisine alive.
"We want to make connections with people, we want people to have connections with each other and we want people to try something new."
Recipes from Hasan Alwarhani:
Samaki Harra - Spicy Fish
Samaki Harra - Spicy Fish Photo: Delicious
Syrian Hummus Mdamas
Syrian hummus mdamas Photo: Damascus Restaurant, Wellington
Ma'amoul Cookies
Maamoul cookies made by Damascus restaurant in Brooklyn, Wellington. Photo: Damascus
