Preserving Middle Eastern Cuisine Through Storytelling: Interview with Culinary Student Lianne Wadi

Lianne Wadi is a Palestinian culinary student, food content creator, and cultural storyteller whose work is rooted in authenticity, creativity, and growth. A student of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Lianne brings a blend of formal training and real-world experience to her work. Prior to attending culinary school, she graduated with a degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and spent nearly 10 years managing a busy restaurant in her hometown of Minnesota. Her business, hospitality, and operations experience has shaped her creative culinary approach, which seeks to conserve and elevate Middle Eastern cuisine. With her recipes, photography and storytelling, Lianne aims to make her culture visible and valued, creating content that leaves people feeling seen, nourished, and inspired.

Q: How did your identity as a Palestinian inform your choice of a career in food and storytelling?

Lianne Wadi: Our kitchen was the focal point of everything when I was growing up. My family used food as a way to connect, celebrate, and preserve our culture. That environment taught me that cuisine has memory and history. When I started taking cooking more seriously, I realized how much I wanted to keep those traditions while finding new ways to share them. That is when storytelling became just as important as the food.

Q: What are some values you try to maintain in every creative project you take on?

Lianne Wadi: The foundation is authenticity. I never want to compromise the roots of a dish or the history behind the food for the sake of trends. Creativity is important, too, because I want to continue challenging myself in the kitchen and behind the camera. Also, personal and professional growth is something I keep returning to. I like to choose projects that challenge me and help me grow.

Q: What have you discovered about yourself since starting culinary school?

Lianne Wadi: I’ve learned that technique is important, but your identity is what makes your work meaningful. Culinary school helped me develop skills, but it also provided me with a place to find who I am as a cook. I’ve become more comfortable about expressing my heritage, even in formal settings. I also enjoyed that I love leading, teaching, and creating content as much as I love cooking.

Q: How does community fit into your career?

Lianne Wadi: Community is everything. Whether it’s my online audience or the people I talk to in kitchens and classrooms, I enjoy sharing and learning with others. I believe food inherently creates community, and I want the spaces I create, virtual or physical, to be welcoming and open to all. Uplifting other voices and working with other people who care about culture and food is something I prioritize.

Q: What is one goal you’re working toward?

Lianne Wadi: I’m focused on finishing my final semester at the Culinary Institute of America. I graduate in August, so I want to really soak up these last few months, continue working on my technique, and be ready for what’s next. I’m thinking a lot about how I want to show up in the food world after graduation, what kind of projects I want to take on, and how I can stay aligned with my mission. It’s an exciting time, and I’m ready to keep building.