Hey there, I'm Omayah Atassi!

I'm a Syrian-American recipe developer, food photographer, and lifelong food lover. I grew up in Chicago surrounded by Syrian food, but it wasn't until I moved away from home that I became interested in learning to make the dishes I'd grown up eating.

When the war made visiting Syria impossible, I felt an even stronger pull to explore my heritage through food. With so many Syrians scattered around the world, I worried about the recipes and cooking traditions that might get lost along the way. I wanted to learn as much as I could, including dishes I'd never encountered in my own family's kitchen.

I've spent years cooking, experimenting, and learning from other cooks. Somewhere along the way, that passion became my profession. These days, I live in Dubai with my husband and two daughters. I cook a lot of Syrian food, but I also need variety in my life. I'm the type of person who has a laundry list of new recipes to try, a sourdough loaf in the proofer, and a new technique I'm determined to figure out.

Omayah Cooks is where I share what I've learned, from traditional Syrian dishes to the occasional adaptations. I put a lot of care into testing and writing my recipes, whether you're making something you grew up eating or trying it for the first time.

I'd love to hear what you're cooking! Find me on Instagram, join my email list, or send me a note below.