VOA常速英语:中东难民的深夜食堂，为你讲述不一样的身边故事

Refugee cooks are preparing meals in restaurant kitchens in 13 European cities as part of the Refugee Food Festival.

This popular and award-winning eatery in the center of the Belgian capital has been taken over by Syrian cook Abdell Baset.

“We are going to make a typical Syrian dish. It’s called Molokia.And it’s with vegetables in Molokia and coriander and garlic.And at the end, we put on the face of it the chicken, and we serve it with rice.”

Baset left war-torn Syria in 2015.While working in the food industry, he heard that soon he would be conscripted to the Syrian army. Just like millions of other Syrians, he fled abroad in search of safety.

He says his passion for cooking will help him build a new life in Europe.

“So when it comes to cooking like now when I was cooking and I went to the people they were eating.And I ask them, and they ask me about my life, how it was in Syria.So I think it’s a very nice opportunity to come together and share our points of views.”

Yannick Van Aeken is the owner of this restaurant and a renowned Belgian chef.He believes the influences of foreign cooks can improve the already high standards of the Belgian restaurant scene.

“It’s always nice to see different influences, and ingredients and the way they’re cooking from different parts of the world. And then everybody can learn a little bit more about their traditions, and their culture of the countries that they come from."

The food festival started as a citizens’ initiative in Paris and is backed by the United Nations Refugee Agency.

It’s hoped the refugee cooks will get employed in the food industry, while also increasing cultural exchanges.

“I think the perception of refugees in Europe is very bad at the moment, and also in Belgium. And I think that’s why it’s very important to support events like these where refugees actually prepare meals,and this is my way to show my support to them.”

Eighty refugee chefs in 13 European cities have taken over kitchens until the end of this month.

Marthe van der Wolf, for VOA news, Brussels.