FADI KATTAN AND GARY USHER BRING PALESTINE AND CHESHIRE TO THE SAME TABLE

On Tuesday 4 August 2026, Franco-Palestinian chef Fadi Kattan and British chef and restaurateur Gary Usher will come together at The White Horse in Churton, Chester, for a unique collaborative dinner as part of the restaurant’s acclaimed Guest Chef Series. 

Bringing together two distinctive culinary voices, the evening explores the meeting of Palestinian culinary traditions and the produce of Cheshire through a menu rooted in generosity, seasonality and a shared belief that great hospitality begins with people and place. 

Set in the Cheshire countryside, The White Horse offers the ideal setting for this collaboration. Rooted in the traditions of the British village pub while driven by a produce-led kitchen, it celebrates exceptional ingredients, warm hospitality and the role restaurants play as places where communities gather and connections are forged. 

Beyond the kitchen, Kattan and Usher share a vision of restaurants as part of a much wider human ecosystem. Both have consistently argued that hospitality should sustain not only the land, but also the people and businesses that make it possible: the farmers who cultivate it, the artisans and producers who preserve knowledge and craft, the restaurant teams who bring hospitality to life, and the independent restaurants that bind these relationships together. 

Gary Usher is the chef and restaurateur behind Elite Bistros and one of Britain’s leading voices in independent hospitality. Through restaurants including Sticky Walnut, Burnt Truffle, Hispi, Kala, Wreckfish, Pinion and The White Horse, he has built a reputation for ambitious yet approachable cooking while speaking candidly about the realities of modern hospitality and the importance of protecting its people. 

Fadi Kattan is a Franco-Palestinian chef, restaurateur and author whose work celebrates the diversity of Palestinian cuisine and its relationship with land, memory and culture. Through Fawda in Bethlehem, Akub in London, Louf in Toronto and his award-winning cookbook *Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food*, he has become one of the leading international voices for contemporary Palestinian cuisine. His work spans restaurants, writing, public speaking and cultural collaborations that use food as a lens through which to explore identity, heritage and contemporary Palestine. 

“Gary and I come from different places and different culinary traditions, but we share something fundamental in the way we approach food and hospitality. I first heard Gary speak at Food on the Edge in Galway and was deeply touched by his vision of restaurants as places that can engage with and contribute to the communities around them, and by his belief in the importance of these establishments as social spaces. It resonated strongly with my own belief that restaurants are about far more than what is served on the plate. They are about the farmers, artisans and producers we work with, the teams who bring them to life, the guests we welcome and the communities we are part of. I have followed Gary’s work ever since, so coming together at The White Horse to cook a menu that brings Palestine and Cheshire into conversation feels very special.” — Fadi Kattan 

Although their culinary traditions have evolved in very different landscapes, the collaboration is rooted in a growing friendship built on mutual respect and shared values. What began with Kattan hearing Usher speak at Food on the Edge has evolved into an ongoing conversation about food, community and the responsibility restaurants have to the people and places around them. 

Rather than reproducing Palestinian dishes, the menu allows Palestinian flavours, techniques and memories to encounter the produce and seasons of Cheshire, creating dishes that belong to both places. 

At the heart of the main course is freekeh, one of the oldest cultivated grains of the Levant. Harvested while still green before being fire-roasted, it embodies the agricultural heritage of Palestine and the wider region, connecting one of the world’s oldest cereals with the exceptional produce of Cheshire. 

Menu 

  • Labaneh & Courgette — Slow-cooked courgette, whipped labaneh, sumac, toasted pumpkin seeds 
  • Broad Bean & Pea Soup — Cumin and garlic soffrito, tahini, melted Cheshire crouton, crisp cured lamb 
  • Mackerel, Green Shatta — Crisp-skinned mackerel, tahini yoghurt, charred lemon 
  • Khiar bil Laban — Chilled cucumber and yoghurt, garlic, dried mint, dill oil 
  • Lamb Rack — Fenugreek and cardamom crust, freekeh, runner beans, toasted walnuts 
  • Mouhalabieh — Mastic-scented milk pudding, cherry and plum compote, shortbread 

Each course will be accompanied by a Palestinian wine pairing selected by Anna Patrowicz, co-founder of Nabeeth Wines & Spirits and beverage designer at Akub. Conceived as an integral part of the menu, her pairings highlight the diversity and contemporary identity of Palestinian wine while extending the dialogue between landscape, producer and plate. Together, the food and wines tell the story of a living Palestinian food culture, from vineyard to table. 

“I’ve always believed that independent restaurants are about far more than what happens on the plate. They’re about the people who work in them, the farmers and suppliers we build relationships with, and the communities that support them. Fadi and I come from very different backgrounds, but I recognise that same belief in the way he cooks and talks about food. Cooking together at The White Horse feels like a natural continuation of that conversation, and I’m looking forward to welcoming people around the table.” — Gary Usher 

At a time when independent restaurants face unprecedented economic and social pressures, the collaboration is also a celebration of hospitality as a force for connection. It reflects Kattan and Usher’s shared belief that restaurants are far more than places to eat: they are cultural and social spaces that sustain farmers, artisans, producers, restaurant teams and local communities, while bringing people together around a shared table. 

More than a collaborative dinner, this event celebrates hospitality as a meeting place—where landscapes, traditions and communities come together around one table. 

Event Details 

Tuesday 4 August 2026 
The White Horse, Chester Road, Churton, Chester CH3 6LA 
Guests arrive: 7:00pm 
Dinner served: 7:30pm 
Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours 
£100 per person (excluding drinks) 
Optional Palestinian wine pairings available. 
Bookings: https://thewhitehorsechurton.co.uk/guest-chef-series/ 

Taste Cheshire is a trading name of Chester Food and Drink LTD, a limited company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 08908935 Registered office: Soughton House, 2 Nicholas Street Mews, Chester, CH1 2NS. Read our privacy policy here.