Newsletter

Ramadan and Shrove Tuesday: Where Traditions Overlap
Ramadan and Shrove Tuesday: Where Traditions Overlap
Over the last two years, Ramadan and Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) have coincided. Different traditions, different histories, yet both share something surprisingly similar: pancakes. In this piece, we explore the... Read more...
Small Batch, Big Impact: How Artisan Brands Are Redefining the Future of Food
The future of food isn’t being driven only by large-scale production. Increasingly, it’s shaped by small-batch, artisan brands that prioritise flavour, transparency, and cultural integrity. Small batch production allows for greater control over ingredients, sourcing, and process. It creates space for fermentation, experimentation, and seasonality. These are the elements that give products character, whether it’s a loaf of bread or a jar of your favourite condiment, sauce or paste. Consumers are also looking for context. They want to know where their food comes from and why it exists. Artisan products... Read more...
How To Build a Mezze Spread That Impresses: A Step-by-Step Guide
A mezze spread is about generosity, not perfection. It’s designed for sharing, grazing, and lingering, where the table becomes the centre of the gathering. We all love a mezze platter at a restaurant with friends, follow the below and bring that restaurant quality experience home with ease. Step one: anchor the table. Creamy staples like hummus, baba ghanoush, or labneh form the base of any mezze spread. These dishes ground everything else. Step two: add contrast. Mezze thrives on balance. Pair rich dips with pickles, olives, or fresh salads to... Read more...
From Palestine to Your Plate: what separates Fil’s Shatta from the rest
Shatta exists in almost every Palestinian household, but no two versions are ever the same. It’s shaped by memory, availability, and personal preference. When we set out to make Shatta at Fil, the goal was never to standardise it, it was to honour it through our own modern interpretation of tradition. What separates Fil’s Shatta starts with fermentation. Fermenting chillies isn’t a trend for us; it’s tradition. The process develops complexity over time, softening raw heat and creating depth that can’t be rushed. This is the foundation of Palestinian shatta... Read more...
Shatta vs. Harissa vs. Zhoug: What’s the Difference?
Shatta vs. Harissa vs. Zhoug: What’s the Difference?
Shatta, harissa, and zhoug are often grouped together as “chilli pastes” or “hot sauces,” but that shorthand does them all a disservice. While they share heat as a common thread,... Read more...
Middle Eastern Pantry 101: The Essential Ingredients Every Home Cook Should Try
Middle Eastern Pantry 101: The Essential Ingredients Every Home Cook Should Try
A well-stocked pantry is more than a collection of ingredients. It’s a shortcut to flavour, a cultural archive, and often a reflection of how food is cooked and shared at... Read more...
5 Unexpected Ways to Use Shatta That Teta Never Told You (But Would Approve Of)
5 Unexpected Ways to Use Shatta That Teta Never Told You (But Would Approve Of)
Shatta has traditionally been a humble condiment; a simple plate topper that brings a burst of fresh heat to any meal. While there’s nothing wrong with that, at Fil we... Read more...
Filanthropy - Flavour That Makes a Difference
Filanthropy - Flavour That Makes a Difference
Since the very beginning, we’ve believed that as a Palestinian food brand, our Shatta should do more than taste good. It should do good. Fil was never meant to exist... Read more...
The Story of a Spoonful: The Origin Of Our “Award-Winning” Shatta Jam
The Story of a Spoonful: The Origin Of Our “Award-Winning” Shatta Jam
When we first started Fil, we never set out to make a chilli jam... Read more...
Fil in the Wild: Now Available in 25 Locations (and Counting!)
Fil in the Wild: Now Available in 25 Locations (and Counting!)
We're thrilled to share that Fil is now available in more than 25 carefully chosen stockists — from independent grocers and delis to artisan food platforms, cafés, and even a... Read more...
Cult Heroes - Arayes
Cult Heroes - Arayes
Some dishes just belong to a time and place. Arayes is one of them. It’s the dish we secretly hope someone brings, but never want to demand. This bbq cult... Read more...
palestinian shatta zaatar roast chicken comfort food
Food that Tastes Like Home - Baba’s Spicy, Aromatic Zaa’tar Chicken
Comfort food isn’t just about ingredients - it’s about the memories stirred with every bite. Here’s the story (and recipe) behind one of the dishes that brings me home. Read more...