{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/645c1a8fc7168c00118a2dc9/6acc106eeea51f2aa367ecf3?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"108. Levantine roots – Sara Aqel from Dara Dining in Amman","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/645c1a8fc7168c00118a2dc9/1791758385607-f5e66b4b-67f4-4d19-9270-be544a8f1322.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Sara Aqel is a Palestinian chef born and raised in Jordan. She trained at the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and went on to cook at La Capitale at the Four Seasons Amman and Al Muntaha and Massimo Bottura’s Torno Subito in Dubai. She later became global executive chef of Fi&#39;lia, the region&#39;s first female-led restaurant. Today, she is back in Amman as chef and co-founder of Dara Dining by Sara Aqel, a sustainability-driven restaurant that pairs Jordanian produce and Levantine dishes with Mediterranean flavors. Her restaurant won the Highest New Entry Award at MENA&#39;s 50 Best Restaurants in 2025 and in 2026 Aqel was named MENA&#39;s Best Female Chef. In her podcast, we will hear Sara Aqel tell about her Palestinian roots and upbringing in Jordan, her connection to Jordanian produce, and the creative process behind the menu at Dara Dining. She will also reveal some of her favourite places in Amman and the rest of the world. All the recommendations mentioned in this podcast and thousands more are available in the World of Mouth app: <a href=\"https://www.worldofmouth.app/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.worldofmouth.app/</a></p>","author_name":"Kenneth Nars"}