hi, i’m Will (he/him/his)! I am a queer, Lebanese chef living in Brooklyn, New York. More importantly, I’d love to be your Tante. 

A Tante is an Aunt, and in Lebanon, anyone can be your Aunt - even if you’re not related to them. A Tante is who I am in my most natural state: someone who loves to plan meals, care for friends and family, and is forever setting a table. In Lebanese culture food carries so much emotion and value. It’s part of who we are as individuals and a community and it’s how we socialize and connect. There’s no better person to represent that cultural anchor than the Tante. And that love for community is where I feel my queer identity and Lebanese roots entangle together. Whether i’m cooking for my boyfriend (my number one taste tester), hosting a dinner party with loved ones, or catering an event - I always want folks to feel like they have a special spot saved at my table. 

My love for global cuisine is inspired by growing up in the UK, Lebanon, and Nigeria. I love to experiment with all cooking traditions, but I will always have a particular passion for Middle Eastern & Levantine cuisine. When I was at University in London, I felt a call to reconnect with Lebanese culture. I would ask my family to send voice notes of homemade dishes and recipes, learned out how to source Middle Eastern ingredients, and replicated my favorite childhood meals. I figured out how to simplify my recipes to fit my schedule, and realized that so many more people could easily cook Levantine food if they had a few more tips and tricks. I believe cooking should feel accessible, and nothing is more exciting to me than translating & developing dishes that have been taught to me by my Mom, Grandmother, and all my wonderful Tantes into something that can be made by anyone, anywhere.