Anissa Helou
Encyclopedia
Anissa Helou is a London-based cookbook author, teacher, and chef specialising in the cuisines of the Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa.
Following completion of the Sotheby's
Works of Art course, she started working for the auction house, becoming their representative for the Middle East. In the 1970s she divided her time between an antiques shop she owned in Paris, and an art and antiques consultancy based in London. Between 1978 and 1986, she lived in Kuwait acting as an advisor to members of the ruling family, returning to London in 1986.
Encouraged by a friend in the publishing world, and inspired by the Lebanese civil war, Anissa wrote her first cookbook, Lebanese Cuisine. In 1994, Lebanese Cuisine was published. It was short-listed for the prestigious Andre Simon Book Awards.
In 1999, Anissa changed her life by selling a number of collections at Christie's
. She also sold her Victorian house and bought a two-storey warehouse loft in Shoreditch
, which she converted into a modern minimalist living and working space. It is here that she teaches in her state-of-the-art kitchen.
Biography
The daughter of a Syrian father and a Lebanese mother, Anissa left her native Lebanon at the age of 21 to study interior design in London.Following completion of the Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
Works of Art course, she started working for the auction house, becoming their representative for the Middle East. In the 1970s she divided her time between an antiques shop she owned in Paris, and an art and antiques consultancy based in London. Between 1978 and 1986, she lived in Kuwait acting as an advisor to members of the ruling family, returning to London in 1986.
Encouraged by a friend in the publishing world, and inspired by the Lebanese civil war, Anissa wrote her first cookbook, Lebanese Cuisine. In 1994, Lebanese Cuisine was published. It was short-listed for the prestigious Andre Simon Book Awards.
In 1999, Anissa changed her life by selling a number of collections at Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
. She also sold her Victorian house and bought a two-storey warehouse loft in Shoreditch
Shoreditch
Shoreditch is an area of London within the London Borough of Hackney in England. It is a built-up part of the inner city immediately to the north of the City of London, located east-northeast of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
, which she converted into a modern minimalist living and working space. It is here that she teaches in her state-of-the-art kitchen.