Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The annual Hanny & Najet Hassan Lecture in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities.
The 2025 Hassan Lecture is presented by Nadeem Mansour, author of the award-winning cookbook, Thuraya: Recipes from Our Family's Kitchen in Jordan (thurayadelights.com/). For this special evening, Nadeem is joined in conversation by professors Soheila Esfahani (Department of Visual Arts), Melitta Adamson (Department of Languages and Cultures), and Benjamin Hill (Department of Philosophy).
Named after the author's mother, Thuraya is a story of love, heritage, and the power of food to bridge distances across countries, cultures and communities. At its heart, Thuraya is a culinary diary and loving tribute to the plates of Jordan and the Middle East, documenting and preserving the recipies and traditions passed down from mother to son.
Thuraya recently earned four Best in the World honours at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, including the global prize for Best Mediterranean Book and Best Video Presentation, and the prestigious Best Cookbook in the World category. Thuraya is the first English-language Jordanian cookbook to be nominated in these prestigious categories, representing vital recognition of immigrant journeys, the preservation of cultural memory and the richness of Canada's multicultural story.
About Nadeem Mansour:
Jordanian-Canadian writer Nadeem Mansour is a distinguished C-Suite executive whose career and expertise in governance and resilience is matched by a deep passion for culinary arts. His career includes a commitment to championing ethical frameworks and human rights. His leadership underscores a profound commitment to fostering inclusivity, reflected in his service on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Center for Diversity and Inclusion.
The annual Hassan lecture, which coincides with Canadian Islamic Heritage month, offers an opportunity for the Western and London community to join together in learning more about the culture, societies and rich intellectual history of the Islamic and Arab world.
The annual Hanny & Najet Hassan Lecture in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities.
The 2025 Hassan Lecture is presented by Nadeem Mansour, author of the award-winning cookbook, Thuraya: Recipes from Our Family's Kitchen in Jordan (thurayadelights.com/). For this special evening, Nadeem is joined in conversation by professors Soheila Esfahani (Department of Visual Arts), Melitta Adamson (Department of Languages and Cultures), and Benjamin Hill (Department of Philosophy).
Named after the author's mother, Thuraya is a story of love, heritage, and the power of food to bridge distances across countries, cultures and communities. At its heart, Thuraya is a culinary diary and loving tribute to the plates of Jordan and the Middle East, documenting and preserving the recipies and traditions passed down from mother to son.
Thuraya recently earned four Best in the World honours at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, including the global prize for Best Mediterranean Book and Best Video Presentation, and the prestigious Best Cookbook in the World category. Thuraya is the first English-language Jordanian cookbook to be nominated in these prestigious categories, representing vital recognition of immigrant journeys, the preservation of cultural memory and the richness of Canada's multicultural story.
About Nadeem Mansour:
Jordanian-Canadian writer Nadeem Mansour is a distinguished C-Suite executive whose career and expertise in governance and resilience is matched by a deep passion for culinary arts. His career includes a commitment to championing ethical frameworks and human rights. His leadership underscores a profound commitment to fostering inclusivity, reflected in his service on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Center for Diversity and Inclusion.
The annual Hassan lecture, which coincides with Canadian Islamic Heritage month, offers an opportunity for the Western and London community to join together in learning more about the culture, societies and rich intellectual history of the Islamic and Arab world.
