I’m no foodie but I do quite enjoy dipping my toe into the pool of culinary delights whenever I’m travelling abroad. One of the aspects of the food experience that I truly enjoy is learning about the people and history behind whatever I’m about to consume. Breaking Bread is a magnificent testament to the wonders and joy of food and the extraordinarily power it has in bringing people, even sworn enemies, to the table together. 

Welcome to the A-Sham Arabic Food Festival. Founded by Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel, the first Muslim Arab to win Israel’s MasterChef, the festival invites Arab and Jewish chefs to celebrate their shared culinary history as they exchange stories, recipes and techniques. Connected through a shared love of food, the chefs unite to celebrate their cultures and the food of their region free from political and religious boundaries.

A celebration of the region’s diverse cuisines and people, Breaking Bread offers a mouth watering taste of rich culinary traditions that will leave you wanting more.

Breaking Bread follows the A-Sham Arabic Food Festival, based in Haifa, Israel. It follows both Jewish and Arab chefs as they come together to share their food, stories and culture. 

It’s an incredible, eye opening documentary not just from a culinary perspective, but also the human beings involved. For most of my life my idea of that particular region of the world has been that Jews and Arabs are constantly at war with one another. 

But there’s not a glimpse of the politics that divide that land here at all. What we witness are the stories of different families, grandfathers and grandmothers, their love and their food. There are also delicious dishes to behold, all more stunning than the last. 

Breaking Bread is a magnificent testament to the wonders and joy of food and the extraordinarily power it has in bringing people, even sworn enemies, to the table together.

★★★★