Urban Farm and Kitchen

  • Recipe Index
  • Grilling
  • Garden
  • Book
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Grilling
  • Garden
  • Book
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Grilling
    • Garden
    • Book
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home

    About me

    Hey everyone! I'm Luay Ghafari, the creator, recipe developer, writer and photographer of Urban Farm and Kitchen, a blog dedicated to fresh garden-to-table, Levantine and Mediterranean recipes.

    Picture of Luay Ghafari.

    What you’ll find on Urban Farm and Kitchen

    • Fresh, easy and delicious recipes inspired by my garden-to-table philosophy. Recipes like my popular Tomato Puff Pastry Tart and Burrata Bruschetta.
    • My mother and grandmother’s classic Levantine and Eastern Mediterranean recipes and innovative modern twists like Maftoul (Palestinian Couscous with Chicken), Maqluba (Upside-Down Rice and Chicken), or Musakhan (Sumac Chicken with Onions.
    • Preservation tips, advice and recipes to turn that beautiful and nutritious homegrown produce (or farmer’s market haul) into pickles, salsas, sauces, ferments, spice mixes and more.
    • Gardening advice, seasonal guides and more based on my 12+ years of gardening experience and work with clients.
    • My email newsletter where I share new recipes, resources, seasonal advice, tips and new product releases every other week.
    • From time to time, I will share other projects which I think you’ll enjoy.  

    My Book: Seed to Table

    In 2023, I published my first book, Seed to Table: A Seasonal Guide to Organically Growing, Cooking, and Preserving Food at Home. It was one of the highlights of my career.

    This book has been a true labor of love and represents everything I am passionate about:

    • Growing healthy, beautiful and abundant gardens.
    • Garden-to-table recipes
    • Preserving the harvest
    Jpeg of book cover, Seed to Table, with a top-down view of salads on the cover.

    It was named one of the 18 Best Cookbooks for Beginners in 2023 by Tasting Table.

    It was also an Amazon #1 New Release and Best Seller in several categories including Organic Gardening, Vegetable Gardening, Herbs, and Organic Cooking!

    More about Luay and Urban Farm and Kitchen

    Why did you start this blog?

    I have always been passionate about fresh seasonal produce and recipes. It all started with a CSA (community-supported agriculture) box I subscribed to in 2009. Since then, my passion for cooking and growing food has grown by leaps and bounds.

    I initially started this blog as a way to share my experiences, knowledge and recipes with my social media followers. Since then, my audience has grown beyond social media. Home gardeners and cooks from all over the world have made my recipes and I am grateful for their feedback and support.

    Why focus on Levantine food?

    Growing up as an immigrant in Canada, I shunned my culture's cuisine in favor of more mainstream or Western dishes. This was perhaps a way for me to assimilate into my new home or feel like I belonged in a country that was unfamiliar and new... A common refrain among many first-generation immigrants.

    When we see our cultural foods viewed as inferior, cheap or relegated to "fast food", it's difficult to feel pride in the ingredients, spices and aromas. We're conditioned at a young age to think of French or Italian food as the pinnacle of high class. This is a very Eurocentric view of the world that I once believed in.

    I no longer feel this way. I am here to celebrate and spotlight the centuries of tradition, the flavors, aromas and emotions that my mother's and grandmother's recipes have to offer with fresh and seasonal ingredients.

    Do you have culinary training?

    Though I am mostly self-taught in the kitchen and my formal educational background is in Engineering (Bachelor of Engineering), I did enroll in the George Brown College Culinary Arts program and took evening courses to help me level up. The recipes on this blog feature my favorite seasonal ingredients, my Middle Eastern (Levantine) upbringing and my love for fresh and vibrant Mediterranean cuisine.

    Why is gardening and growing food so important to you?

    Growing food and cooking food are interconnected and interdependent. As the saying goes, farmers feed cities. Not only do feed cities but without them, we wouldn’t have recipe blogs.  As a food grower and garden educator myself I have made it my mission to teach people about the importance of growing food.

    Some may think this is an outdated skill but I think nothing could be farther from the truth. This is why I am so passionate about gardening education and teach a Master Class to help urban and suburban gardeners grow their own food.

    How can we connect with you?

    I am active on social media. Find me on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Pinterest. You can also email me at luay @ urbanfarmandkitchen.com. I look forward to connecting with you!
     
    For business inquiries or to request a Media Kit, feel free to email me directly or check out my business page for more information about previous partnerships. I have worked with many amazing brands including Vitamix, Metro Ontario, Kubota, Daily Harvest and more.

    Featured in

    Logos of websites and publications where Urban Farm and Kitchen has been featured.

    A few of my top recipes and posts

    • Poached eggs with chili oil and dill on a plate.
      Turkish Eggs (Cilbir)
    • A hand holding a burrata bruschetta with tomatoes and basil.
      Burrata Bruschetta
    • Linguine pasta with Sicilian pesto and fried capers on top
      Easy and Fast Sicilian Pesto Pasta with fried capers
    • A plate with pulled lamb and herb garnish.
      Pulled Lamb (Middle Eastern Slow Cooked Lamb)
    • A jar of mango habanero hot sauce on a board with a mango and chile peppers.
      Fermented Mango Habanero Hot Sauce
    • Arayes tray with stuffed pita quarters and a tahini dipping sauce.
      Arayes (Authentic Middle Eastern Meat Stuffed Pitas)
    • Slices of cheddar jalapeno focaccia on a wooden board.
      Jalapeno Cheddar Focaccia (Easy No Knead Bread Recipe)
    • Sicilian pesto in mason jar.
      Easy and Delicious Sicilian Pesto Recipe (Pesto alla Trapanese)

    I started this blog to help people learn how to grow, cook and preserve their food. If you’re reading this right now, I want to thank you for being here. It’s truly an honor for me to share my passion, knowledge and recipes with you!

    Media and Interviews:

    Millennials are discovering the soothing powers of gardening (Toronto Star)
    DIY Herb Container (CBC Life)
    15 Types Of Chili Peppers And How To Use Them To Spice Up Your Cooking (Mashed)
    How to Grow Lettuce for Crisp, Fresh Salads All Season Long (Martha Stewart)
    18 Best Cookbooks For Beginners In 2023 (Tasting Table)
    Tastiest Tomatoes (CBC Life)
    Toronto Life Magazine
    Authority Magazine (Medium.com) Interview
    Homes and Gardens

    Welcome to Urban Farm and Kitchen!

    Picture of Luay G

    Hi! I'm Luay, a cook, recipe developer, gardener, educator and photographer and this is my little slice of the web! I launched Urban Farm and Kitchen as an ode to seasonal, local, garden-to-table recipes and I look forward to continue sharing my passions with you all! More about me>


    Grilling Recipes!

    • A plate of shish tawook skewers with a side salad, pickled sumac onions and garlic sauce.
      Authentic Shish Tawook (Grilled Chicken Skewers)
    • Beef kofta on a plate with a side of vegetables and drizzled with yogurt sauce.
      Beef Kofta (Spiced Ground Beef Kebabs)
    • Chicken souvlaki skewers on a platter garnished with dill, mint, sliced lemons and a side of yogurt sauce.
      Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers Recipe (with Sides)
    • A platter with rice, chopped salad, sumac onions and harissa chicken skewers.
      Harissa Chicken Skewers (with Sides)


    Newest Recipes!

    • A bowl of Kale Chickpea Feta Salad with chopped kale, chickpeas, cucumber, fresh mint, dill, and a creamy dressing, garnished with feta.
      Kale Chickpea Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
    • Grilled Joojeh Kabob chicken skewers with a golden char served on a white platter, garnished with fresh dill, cherry tomatoes, and lemon slices.
      Joojeh Kabob (Persian Saffron Chicken Kabab Recipe)
    • Middle Eastern Beef Shish Kebabs with yellow bell peppers, red onions, and zucchini on skewers, garnished with fresh mint and parsley. Served on a white platter with a lemon wedge and a small bowl of sauce.
      Middle Eastern Beef Shish Kebabs (with Sides)
    • Tahdig Crispy Persian Rice on a platter.
      Tahdig (Crispy Persian Rice with Saffron)

    Jpeg of book cover, Seed to Table, with a top-down view of salads on the cover.

    Seed to Table, my first book, is available for purchase worldwide!


    Featured in

    Logos of websites and publications where Urban Farm and Kitchen has been featured.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Legal

    Privacy Policy & Disclosure

    Accessibility Statement

    Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    Sign Up!

    Contact

    Contact

    Media Kit

    At no cost to you, I may earn from qualified purchases made through affiliate links on my website. Read the Disclosure.

    Urban Farm and Kitchen operates from Toronto, Canada, the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

    Copyright © 2025 Urban Farm and Kitchen.  All rights reserved. The content on this website may not be copied or reproduced in any way whatsoever without prior written permission. Urban Farm and Kitchen is a registered trademark (Can).