For Eve Cina, food has always been about much more than just what we eat. "My grandparents were refugees from the Eastern European pogroms and my grandmother swore by her chicken soup," she told me as she sat in the gardens of the Nottingham Refugee Forum where she has been a volunteer since 2016 following her retirement. "My grandma's long gone now but I like the idea that she’s still part of that refugee tradition and what they can bring, so I'm really pleased the recipe got in.
" The dish in question - Eve's grandma's chicken soup - is a typical meal from Eastern Europe, often associated with refugees from Nazi persecution. It's also one of many recipes shared in 'The Narjis Cookbook,' a grassroots project created by clients, volunteers and staff at Nottingham Refugee Forum. For years the charity has been dishing up personal recipes from around the world at their community café of the same name (which means 'daffodil' in Arabic) but they had never formally showcased the dishes together.
Get the latest news straight to your phone by joining us on WhatsApp And so the idea of a cookbook was born. "We wanted to celebrate the kitchen but also all the different cultures that are affiliated with the forum," said Emily Heaven. She's the project's coordinator and has been a volunteer at the St Ann's-based charity for three years.
"It started about a year ago and we let it develop in a way that seemed fit for how people were interested to contribute and I really hope people are p.
