Almond & Fig: Food, Family Stories, and Identity

Almond & Fig: Food, Family Stories, and Identity by Mai Kakish will be held on Saturday, November 15 at 10:00 am PST/1:00 pm EST via Zoom. Register Here.

Mai Kakish, Palestinian American food blogger, will share how recipes carry stories, identity, and tradition across generations.

Mai Khader Kakish is a Palestinian-born marketing professional, storyteller, and content creator. She holds a master’s degree in marketing and public relations from DePaul University in Chicago, where she currently resides with her three daughters.

Mai serves as a marketing consultant for Ziyad Brand, the largest Middle Eastern food brand in North America. Beyond her professional work, she is deeply committed to community engagement, advocacy, and preserving Palestinian heritage through food and storytelling.

She is the founder and director of TEE, a long-running community program dedicated to teaching Arab American children Arabic language and culture. For over 18 years, she has led this initiative, using food, music, and immersive experiences to nurture cultural identity. She also serves on the board of the Seraj Library Project, a non-profit organization that establishes libraries and vibrant community centers in Palestinian villages and refugee camps.

Mai is a public speaker and advocate, sharing her firsthand experience of growing up under Israeli occupation in Palestine. Through storytelling and fundraising, she raises awareness about Palestinian history and supports initiatives that rebuild and empower Palestinian communities.

Her deep longing for home led her to create Almond and Fig, a platform that shares the history, injustices, and beauty of Palestine through food and personal narratives. More than just a food blog, Almond and Fig is a family memoir told through recipes, honoring her grandparents’ traditions and preserving the flavors of her homeland. Through @almondandfig, Mai hopes to inspire others to cook and appreciate the rich culinary heritage of Palestine, using food as a bridge to memory, culture, and conversation.