World Famous Missoula chef Ray Risho – "Ray Risho’s Ports of Call" provides introduction to ‘Syrian state of belly’

"Everyone knows what tabbouli is," explained Missoula chef and cookbook author Ray Risho. "It’s a cracked wheat salad. The Assyrians called it safsouf. My mother made it a certain way, my grandmother made it another way. I could taste a safsouf blindfolded and I could tell you which aunt made it."

Risho’s parents were born in Damascus, Syria, after his grandparents fled persecution in Turkey. His family members are Assyrians, northern Semites who were members of the Assyrian Orthodox Church.

"Every tribe in every clan, and every family, has their own cuisine," Risho told me.

His forthcoming book, "Ray Risho’s Ports of Call," https://www.facebook.com/Ray-Rishos-Ports-of-Call-The-Global-Kitchen-Cookbook-1560983724116252/ will include a large section on Syrian cuisine.

ARI LeVAUX for the Missoulian

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