Beit Sitti

In Amman, Jordan, a Visit to Beit Sitti - AFAR

"Housed in a grandmother’s inherited home in Jabal Al Weibdeh, this hands-on cooking school teaches traditional Jordanian home dishes while promoting female economic empowerment. Run by three sisters who opened the house to guests in 2010, the program employs dozens of local women—many of whom gain the skills and confidence to start their own catering businesses—and emphasizes building human connections as much as technique. Classes cover recipes beyond the usual stereotypes, with participants chopping, kneading, and preparing dishes such as mutabal (eggplant dip), a loaded farro salad, khubz (Arabic bread) baked in an outdoor oven, and maqlubah (the upside-down chicken, rice, and fried-vegetable dish), and using regional flavors like za’atar, sumac, and orange blossom water. The intimate, photo-filled house with a sundrenched terrace and vintage Singer sewing machine draws a wide range of visitors—from tourists to celebrity chefs and members of the royal family—and runs lessons seven days a week (currently priced at $70 per couple or $140 for private lessons)." - Jonathan Thompson