Dyafa Announces New Consulting Chef Mona Leena Michael After Reem Assil’s Departure | Eater SF

"Opened last spring in Jack London Square by chef Daniel Patterson and his Alta Group in the former home of Haven, the restaurant showcases Palestinian and Syrian food and initially worked with consulting chef Reem Assil. Palestinian-American chef Mona Leenais has joined the kitchen as a consultant, picking up where Assil left off; Leenais says she is excited to share her knowledge of Palestine’s food, culture, ingredients, and rich history with the Dyafa team and describes Arabic food as “extremely savory, rustic, and homey; at the same time it is complex and layered.” Though Assil made clear her earlier consulting role was temporary so she could focus on projects with operating control, Leenais later clarified that her consulting role at Dyafa is permanent and that she aims to provide refinement, education, and some modernization of the menu—celebrating California’s bounty with a more seasonally driven approach and bringing in influences beyond strictly traditional Palestinian fare—adding that Dyafa is “such an amazing restaurant as it stands.”" - Caleb Pershan