Earlier this month, Dubai-based model and humanitarian, Jessica Kahawaty added a new venture to her bio; launching a food delivery concept with her mother, Rita. Focused on her sharing mother’s heartwarming dishes with the residents of Dubai, the service (named Mama Rita) boasts comfort food, healthy bites and traditional family recipes made to be enjoyed by all. Here, MOJEH speaks to Jessica about curating the heartwarming menu, which dishes she’d serve at a dinner party and which remind her most of home.
Why did you decide to launch Mama Rita — where did the idea come from?
We decided to launch Mama Rita as we saw a big gap in the market for healthy, homey, delicious and clean Arabic/Mediterranean and international food. Everything seemed so processed and cold. I missed my mother’s cooking when I lived alone in Dubai and wished there was a food delivery concept that provided me with all the delicious meals I grew up with, but without the feeling of it being a delivery service.
Why did you decide on a delivery concept?
My mother and I have always discussed doing something with her wonderful cooking. We never thought we would be in the food delivery space as for the last few years were thinking of a cookbook, digital recipes and even frozen foods. We then realised that it wouldn’t be the same as people experiencing her food from her hands, an experience that cannot be replicated by merely sharing a recipe and that’s how we decided to launch Mama Rita. I still want to develop a cookbook for the future, because people who don’t have access to Mama Rita in their countries are asking for it!
Tell us what it has been like to work alongside your mother?
It’s been fantastic to see her bring her passion to life and share it with the world. We had some challenging times as she cooks from the heart and often with no measurement of ingredients so going professional and mass obliged her to be a bit more methodical with her cooking and measure everything (which every mother hates when she cooks instinctively). And we’ve had amazing times, especially seeing people’s reactions and feedback to the food.
What do you love most about your mother’s cooking and why did you want to share it with the world?
I love that her cooking is extremely flavourful yet healthy. She is so conscious about the ingredients she uses and that can be felt with every bite. Food is to be shared. Food tastes best when it’s done with love and you eat it with the people you care about. I feel great joy knowing that our food is being enjoyed by everyone in Dubai. Our best compliments have been that this is the best food they’ve ever had or it reminds them exactly of their mother.
What did you consider when curating the menu?
I thought of what I would personally want a menu to look like when curating it. I didn’t follow any rules. I focused on providing a huge selection for customers to come back to every day without feeling like they’re eating the same cuisine. I love starters because I love sharing them with family and friends. When thinking of salads, I included her best super food salads as well as traditional ones like fattouch and tabbouli. I included the best pasta based mains, rice, meat and chicken, but I also didn’t forget vegetarians so they have a wide selection of delicious food. Some things are deemed comfort food like the Original Lasagne, the Pesto Pasta or Beef Stroganoff but still cooked in a way that is clean, light and extremely delicious…while other options are healthy like the Kale Salad or Oven Baked Chicken with Potato. Our menu is modelled based on what people may feel like on different days of the week.
What style of cuisines can we except to see on the menu?
We have included a lot of Arabic influences like the Beetroot Hummus (the best in town I can promise you), Spinach and Beetroot Fatayer as well as The Original Mloukhiye. If you’re in an Italian mood, we have the best pastas like Pesto Pasta, The Original Lasagne (the best I’ve ever had) and Nouille. Mama Rita’s menu is so diverse, you could order from there every day and not feel like you’re eating the same cuisine.
Can you tell us about Mama Rita’s ethical ethos? And how sustainable the brand is?
We aim to be sustainable in all areas of operation. We cook as per the demand and try very hard not to have wastage. We would rather run out of a dish on a certain day rather than overproduce and end up throwing food. In regards to our packaging, we aim to be sustainable and use as little one use plastic as possible. What’s great is that our small sauce containers (whilst made of plastic) can be washed and reused at home. We love stacking them in our pantry with different colourful spices.
If you were hosting a dinner party for friends, which Mama Rita dishes would you serve?
I would definitely get things that can be shared (which is most of the menu!). I’d have the Turkey Pistachio Bites with cranberry dip on the side, The Beetroot Hummus which comes with cucumber and carrot sticks and Grandma’s Meat pastries which people end up fighting for the last piece. Salads are always great and sharable – like the Quinoa or Kale salad. People always love a good lasagna at dinner or Oriental Rice with roasted nuts on top and yoghurt. I love to be different so I’d give each one of my guests a Fruit Paradise to end the night with.
Which dishes remind you most of home and family?
The Nouille reminds me a lot of family as it’s my brother and my favourite. We used to ask for it a lot after school. The Mloukhiye is definitely a family staple. We come together as a family to have it as it’s such a heartwarming, healthy and delicious meal.
Aside from Mama Rita, what other projects/future plans are you currently working?
I have so many ideas for ventures I’d like to explore. I already invest in a few companies in things that I’m interested in like brain health (Your Heights is a really cool product) and I’m looking to do other things like an app with my brother (still confidential for now), a children’s book, my own philanthropic foundation in a few years and acting. My bucket list is long.
Mama Rita is available to order at Mamarita.com
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