In Arabic, halaka means “gathering of shared devotion and learning,” and often defines the feminine word for Circle. Historically, South West Asian and North African women and religious scholars of eastern faiths use it in reference to spiritual meetings where individuals seek knowledge and find kinship.

Food has always had an intimate relationship with new tribes of people and their philosophies meeting in shared spaces, and it’s no accident that the tradition of banquets found its voice in the first human circles. Food is, after all, our species’ ancient language of kindness, and life — it is the resting place of peace.

In our banquet consultations, we ask: how immersive do our clients want their guests’ dining experience to be? How messy? How spicy? What have they just done before, and what will they do after, they sit to eat? And are our guests even sitting at all?

What’s the intention of your gathering, and how can our kitchen serve your vision? What heritage are we sharing and empowering, and what stories are being told?

A pomegranate split open, seeds glistening
Roast chicken with lemon and rosemary
Shredded red cabbage, tomato, and cauliflower salad
A tray of golden fried samosas
Plated fish with sauteed greens, purple sweet potato, and pickled onion
Penne pasta in tomato sauce topped with shaved parmesan
Noodle soup with tofu and fresh cilantro
Roasted vegetables, lentils, and greens on a serving board
Herbed fried eggs over rice with lime and greens
A tray of roasted stuffed peppers
Roasted cabbage and an herbed omelet on a plate
Cucumber, tomato, and herb salad
Toasted chicken salad sandwich with arugula
Herbed omelet with rice pilaf and roasted plantain
Stir-fried noodles with shrimp and bok choy

“...And what simmering surprises we are
(more than bones and old stories).
How I ache to sweep the old map from this table
and feed
my love
to yours.
So, Habibi, we are cradled just…
so,
by our flowers
and the salt
of life....” — Manara El Araby

HALA’AL KITCHEN

Vegan & GF options and substitutions widely available.

Banquets & Delivery

Lunch and dinner service for gatherings of all sizes, with rice, salads, and beverage service built in.

See pricing →

Retreats & Festivals

Multi-day, multi-course packages — El Maharani and El Bedouina — for retreats and festival feasts.

See packages →

Weddings

Coming Soon

Learn more →

Ready to gather?

Call for a free consultation, or send us your event details and we’ll be in touch.