The Athabasca Syrian Support Group is set to host a traditional Syrian dinner April 4, the chefs from a refugee family that was brought from war-torn Syria to Canada last year.
The dinner —which includes traditional treats like fatayers, fattoush and mendi — will take place at the Athabasca United Church. It takes place just before last concert of the Heartwood Folk Club’s spring 2019 season, Saskatchewan folk singer Connie Kaldor at the Nancy Appleby Theatre.
Shirley Stashko is one of the sponsors in the Athabasca Syrian Support Group, and she said the family has been selling Syrian food like hummus at the Athabasca Farmers’ Market, and this is the first dinner they are preparing.
“Of course, they’re very anxious to share their culture and their food with the community, because they’re so grateful that first of all that there were sponsors to take them in, and secondly the people here have been so welcoming,” she said.
Stashko said in a press release that the chefs include Mohammad Halawa and his wife Suhair Aldarbi, who are refugees of the Syrian war. They arrived in Athabasca last September with their three teenaged children.
She also said the money raised through this event will go into the sponsorship group’s funds. She added more refugees are on the way, as well.
The release states the dinner menu will include appetizers, salads, three main dishes, desserts, and traditional Syrian coffee and tea.
Doors open for dinner at 5 p.m. and food will be served at 5:30 p.m. Dinner is $30 a person, and for more information people can phone Stashko at 780-675-5902 or Lorrill at 403-506-8855.
