Meet our friend Mohammed
Mo created his recipe for Jungle Eggs in the ‘Jungle’ refugee camp in Calais in 2016. He cooked his signature dish for all his friends in the camp -refugees and volunteers from all over the world. Equipped only with a small gas stove and a large pan, he conjured up feasts with the ingredients donated by charities. Making and sharing food, eating from one pan together, was his way of giving back the love he was shown during these difficult times. Mo's cooking is inspired by his upbringing in the mountains of Ain al-Fijah close to Damascus, Syria, where fresh vegetables, fruit and herbs grew on his doorstep among the animals and chickens his family kept. People would regularly come together to cook, share and enjoy food. Mo’s love for good food comes from his mother, ‘The best chef in the world’ he says. Since arriving in the UK, Mo has been wowing his British friends and customers with explosions of flavours and colours at London's first Syrian monthly brunch pop up
What were the important ingredients needed to set up this dream of yours?
Friends that believed in me were definitely the most important ingredient. People to encourage me and remind me that I am a good man and I am talented.I really needed them as it was hard coming to the UK at the beginning, many people didn’t trust us, they seem scared. I wanted to say “listen to us, we’re not useless, we’re not stupid, let us show you our talents” I was sure when they saw what we could do, they would accept us. Mo’s Eggs was set up to showcase my talents and to allow people to try new food whilst sitting next to new people. We like to seat people next to people they don’t know to encourage new conversations and friendships.
What do you enjoy most about cooking?
I really love the attention! When customers say “thank you it’s delicious” it completely makes my day, I love the feeling I get, when I feel that good, it feels like I’m never going to get down again. It’s addictive. The positive praise gives me new energy for life.I really love seeing people eating my food, smiling, enjoying themselves and looking happy, it’s wonderful. I think “I’ve done something good in my life. It’s delightful and I feel ecstatic. (My first two English words, I love using them!) I have cooked for some famous people like actress Juliette Stevenson, comedian Debra Francis-White (the Guilty Feminist) and award winning film Director WaadAl-Kateabbut. I would love to cook for the Queen, to have a one-to-one conversation with her.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
I’d love to have my own restaurant or other business where I can employ people, I’d love to be able to give people jobs so that they can support themselves.I want to pass on the help I received. I want to show people that refugees can be trusted, that they are just ordinary and talented people like anyone else.
Nothing makes me happier than when I hear a colleague at work say
“My colleague Mohammed”. I love to hear that. I want to just be a colleague, a friend,
not a refugee.
Click here to find out more about Mo’s Eggs
Redefining “Refugee”
/refjʊˈdʒiː/ noun
A neighbour or colleague who is rebuilding a life in which they feel respected, valued and at home.
Synonyms: colleague; neighbour; friend; university graduate; talent; asset; skilled employee; qualified professional.