Kindness is on the menu: chef brings Iraqi food to NHS workers

Coronavirus prompts initiative by Philip Juma to deliver Iraqi cuisine every Friday for health workers on the frontlines in the UK

Iraqi food for NHS staff cooked by Philip Juma, a British-Iraqi chef. Courtesy Philip Juma

British health workers are getting a taste of Iraqi cuisine as they fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Philip Juma, the British-Iraqi chef renowned for his pop-up supper clubs in London, closed his Borough Market spot, Juma Kitchen, last month because of the outbreak of Covid-19, but he kept his apron on and is now cooking for those on the frontlines.

Every Friday, the chef delivers nearly 130 portions of Iraq’s most popular dishes to doctors, nurses and staff workers in hospitals around the English capital.

"I'm cooking from my heart," he told The National.

The initiative started three weeks ago, when Juma found leftover food in his freezer after taking the difficult decision to shut down in Borough.

He had plenty of spices, okra and saffron to feed tens of health workers.

Juma, whose specialism is handmade kubbas, otherwise known as Iraqi dumplings, felt he needed to cook for the NHS and to give back to the medical community as they work long, hard hours on the frontline of the outbreak.

Kubba is one of the most famous and authentic Iraqi dishes.

“It’s a nice routine for me and it gives the NHS staff something to look forward to. This is an impetus to make effort and a fuss for these people, these heroes,” he said.

After posting on social media about his plan, Juma received an enthusiastic response.

“I got reactions from people asking if they can help and I wasn’t really requesting any help financially," he said.

Juma delivered Bamya, a traditional stew prepared using lamb, okra and tomatoes as primary ingredients, chicken biryani and dolma to Queen Elizabeth, Guys, St Thomas’s, Chelsea and Westminster, St Georges and St Pancras hospitals.

He cooks the dishes himself, without help, and the packages usually are split between three to four hospitals.

His most recent delivery was dolma, Iraq's most famous dish, consisting of various stuffed vegetables with rice and minced meat, slowly cooked in lemon, pomegranate and tamarind.

It went to St Pancras Hospital.

The chef said that people have been inspired by his dolma-making techniques and are now trying it at home.

“It’s the Iraqi spirit, it’s alive,” he said.

The UK has undertaken lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus, with all restaurants, bars and cafes closed. The death toll has passed 21,600, and citizens have been urged to stay at home unless they have to travel to work, go out for essential shopping or exercise.

“I want to keep generating love and community. This is what I keep telling myself regardless of my circumstance. I can see it making a difference to people, and this is where I want to be right now,” Juma said.

Doctors and nurses dealing with the influx of patients said the donated food made a huge difference and described Juma as the “kindest soul”.

Dina Saleh, a doctor in St Pancras Hospital, said when Juma found out she was a medic he delivered “lots of beautifully packaged and delicious chicken biryani rice” to the hospital.

"All the staff from the nurses, doctors, pharmacists and administrative staff were so grateful and the generous thought brought so many smiles on a Friday afternoon," Ms Saleh told The National.

“He is so generous to be doing this when there is so much uncertainty around his own pop up and business,” she said.

The health workers are grateful for Juma's efforts, especially with the pressures they are under at work, Ahmed Twaij, one of the doctors who received the chicken biryani dish told The National.

“They are grateful that food has been brought in, the feedback I was getting as to how amazing the food was and how grateful they are that this has been brought to them was massive,” Mr Twaij said.

Juma said he will not stop his deliveries until the crisis is over.

“I’m not saying no to donations but there is enough for another two Fridays."

The chef has set up a scheme on the Juma Kitchen website, where people can buy vouchers to help feed NHS staff.