Born in Venezuela to a Middle Eastern family and growing up in Miami, Tony Tahhan draws inspiration from a variety of cultures.
Tony pursued degrees in Math, Economics, and Spanish Literature from Cornell University. As an elective course, he explored food anthropology and became fascinated by its stories, traditions, and taboos. In 2010, Tony was awarded a Fulbright Research grant to Syria, where he studied the midday meal in three contexts: at homes, in restaurants, and in the streets. From cooking to eating, food was a natural vehicle for cultural exchange and one that he continues to explore. From his current home in Baltimore, Tony documents recipes and stories from Aleppo and his many travels, bringing people together online and in person around the love of food.
During the COVID pandemic, Tony launched a web series called “Teta Thursdays,” a virtual conversation on food, culture, and identity. Every week, he interviewed food writers and researchers who specialize in the food culture of the Arab world. Tony was recently accepted to the Master of Arts in Arab Studies program at Georgetown University where he plans to attend this fall.
In the News
- Baladna English (April 2011)
- Ithaca Journal (April 2008)
- Ithaca Times (April 2008)
- Cornell Summer College (May 2008)
Talks and Appearances
- Food Odysseys: The Mobility of Tastes, Techniques, and Terroirs (March 2021)
- Syrian Artists – Food Talk with Antonio Tahhan (September 2020)
- Breaking Bread: Food in Times of COVID-19 (June 2020)
- TEDx: What Syrian Cuisine Can Teach Us About Humanity (March 2019)
- Light City Presentation at FoodLab (April 2017)
- Alhurra Interview (Arabic) (November 2016)
- Spinach Pesto Pasta on the Morning Show (July 2008)
- Baba Ganoush on the Morning Show (July 2008)
- Baklava on Fox Five (January 2009)
Contact
Want to get in touch? Send me an email to tony@antoniotahhan.com.