The Kitchen that Keeps us Together

Koshari didn’t begin in a kitchen.

It began with a journey.

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Ayman was born in Kuwait, grew up between Kuwait and Egypt, and comes from Palestinian roots, with an Egyptian mother. Later, he studied in the UK before moving to Jordan, where he managed his father’s apple orchard as the eldest of four siblings.

Working the land shaped him. He trained alongside a professor in agriculture studies from Bulgaria before transitioning into Western methodology in horticulture working with some of the greatest names in the horticulture field such as the late jean-Marie Lespinaasse—returning with a new way of seeing food, quality, and care.

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But life changed. Farming became harder to sustain, so he moved to the United States to start over.

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In the U.S., he worked in the food industry with one quiet thought in mind: one day, he would build something of his own. He didn’t know what yet—so he focused on learning.

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The answer came later, at home.

Ayman cooked daily for his wife, Amani—Lebanese, with an Egyptian mother—while she cared for their daughter. Those meals carried something special: comfort, depth, and a sense of home.

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Then, in one week, something meaningful happened:

• Ayman had already been thinking that Koshari could work as a business in Seattle

• Amani bought him a steam table he had casually mentioned

• And his mother, from Egypt, unexpectedly suggested Koshari as a business idea

 

It felt like a sign!

That was the moment everything aligned.

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They began at local markets in Seattle—serving food made with care. People kept coming back.

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Koshari—the naturally vegan, protein-rich Egyptian street food—found its place. Soon after, they were invited to partner with Salt & Sugar Cafe in Ballard.​

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From one dish, they built a fully vegetarian menu inspired by Lebanese and Egyptian traditions. Simple food. Real ingredients. Deep roots. Amani’s attention to ingredients and label transparency adds another layer of care—ensuring that what we serve is not only comforting, but thoughtfully chosen.

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Koshari is what allowed this family to stay together.

 

As parents of a child with multiple disabilities, Ayman and Amani needed a way to work while staying close to her. Today, they do everything themselves—from cooking to serving to every small detail including creating this very website —and their daughter is always with them.​

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This is more than food. It’s a story of movement, resilience, and love— shared one bowl at a time.