Anissa Helou is a chef, food writer, journalist, broadcaster, consultant and blogger focusing on the cuisines and culinary heritage of the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa, and most recently the Islamic world. Born and raised between Beirut, Lebanon, and Mashta el-Helou, Syria, she knows the Mediterranean as only a well-traveled native can. Anissa is the author of numerous award-winning cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning "Feast: Food of the Islamic World,“ "Sweet Middle East: Classic Recipes, from Baklava to Fig Ice Cream," "Levant: Recipes and Memories from the Middle East" and "Lebanese Cuisine," among others. She runs culinary tours to various Mediterranean countries and Iran, and also teaches cooking classes. She divides her time between Sicily, where she will eventually have a teaching kitchen, and London.