Cover Ann Moey's Yallah! Dining takes guests on a culinary adventure that sheds light on some of the most pressing global issues.
Ann Moey's Yallah! Dining takes guests on a culinary adventure that sheds light on some of the most pressing global issues.
1 / 1
Self-taught cook Ann Moey has picked up a string of traditional recipes in her travels and humanitarian work worldwide, and she's using them to make a difference
Did you know that most of the world’s refugees today come from Syria, with over 12 million Syrians forced to flee their homes? How about the fact that as of May this year, 110 million people worldwide had been forcibly displaced? The numbers are staggering, but many Singaporeans—who are far removed from any such turmoil—may not be aware of the different realities people from conflict-torn countries face, much less know how to help.
This is where self-taught cook Ann Moey wants to make a difference, one dinner at a time. The 39-year-old Singaporean, who has worked in the UNHCR’s philanthropy and private partnerships office for over three years, has been whipping up unusual but delicious meals for strangers in her apartment for the past eight months. Having picked up recipes from refugee source countries during her extensive travels for work (she was previously based in Chad, Laos, UAE, and Thailand), Moey’s repertoire of dishes are hard to come by in Singapore, and include well-loved traditional items from Syria, South Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar and Afghanistan.
Named Yallah Dining, the private dining experience brings guests on a journey that includes video and fun verbal presentations on the significance of each dish, as well as the history of how the communities who have traditionally enjoyed these dishes have become displaced and in need of aid.
Don't miss: 5 female-led social enterprises in Malaysia that empower refugees
Above Yallah! Dining's salat vinaigrette, a Ukrainian beetroot salad, is served with a feta cheese twist
Yallah! Dining's salat vinaigrette, a Ukrainian beetroot salad, is served with a feta cheese twist
1 / 1
The menu (and adventure) is changed according to the story that Moey is telling, but the aim remains the same: to share knowledge of lesser-known global issues and evoke sympathy for those who are most affected by these circumstances. Diners also learn more about what they can do to help. Currently, over half of all proceeds from Yallah! Dining goes to a beneficiary organisation such as the UNHCR.
With years of experience working in the humanitarian space, Moey knows there is no effort too small when it comes to spreading awareness and sharing knowledge about the unseen plight refugees—many of whom are young children, elderly, and sickly—are in.
Moey’s passion for helping displaced peoples was sparked by her time in Laos, where she was working in an organisation that provided renewable energy to rural areas. There, she met her kickboxing instructor, Safaa, and learned that he was a former refugee forced to flee Iraq due to conflict. “It was then, when I was 26, that I really understood what being a refugee truly meant,” she says.
So even though she will soon be moving on to the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change as its head of philanthropic investments, Moey will continue to be involved in UNHCR as a volunteer advisor. And of course, she will still be cooking up a storm in her kitchen for Yallah Dining guests who want to make a difference.
In case you missed it: 7 most popular private home dining experiences to book in Singapore
Above Moey's first menu series focused on the global refugee crisis, and the second will focus on climate change and food insecurity
Moey's first menu series focused on the global refugee crisis, and the second will focus on climate change and food insecurity
1 / 1
We speak to her about the motivation and inspiration behind Yallah! Dining, and how she spreads a very pressing message through her love for food and cooking.
What sparked the idea for Yallah! Dining, and what are the inspirations behind it?
I’m a self-taught cook who loves to cook for people. So I thought, “Why not combine that with my background in communications and international development and humanitarian sector to raise awareness of lesser known global issues?”. Singaporeans love food after all, and are always seeking new culinary experiences so I just thought that the concept would work.
The first in Yallah!'s series of private dining experiences is "Breaking Bread", which seeks to raise awareness and funds for refugees. As more than two-thirds of all refugees worldwide come from Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar, I whip out dishes inspired by cuisine from these countries.
The second in Yallah! Dining’s series of experiences will focus on climate change and food insecurity .
I host guests up to three times a month, depending on how hectic my professional and amateur sporting (and partying) life is.
How about the name Yallah, what does it mean?
Apart from being Singlish for “yes, yes yes”, Yallah is Arabic for “let's go” or “come on” and it is frequently used in the Middle East to express one's desire to want something to happen or to want things to keep moving along. It's pretty much the Chinese "jia you", the French "allez", and the Spanish "vamos". Due to the positive and encouraging vibe it exudes, I decided to name my private dining concept ‘Yallah Dining”.
Above Kajaik, a beloved soup from South Sudan. Moey's version uses locally-grown and naturally-farmed fish
Above Moey serving Yallah Dining's version of aushak, an Afghan dumpling dish
Kajaik, a beloved soup from South Sudan. Moey's version uses locally-grown and naturally-farmed fish
1 / 2
How do the proceeds help?
A percentage of the proceeds raised from the dinners will be donated to a beneficiary organisation. For the Breaking Bread Series, $75 out of $128 goes to UNHCR to support their work in protecting forcibly displaced communities. For the climate change and food insecurity series, a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to another beneficiary organisation.
What are some of your signature dishes?
Menus change per series but whenever a new series is launched, other series remain available upon request. The most popular dishes for the “Breaking Bread” series are the Ukrainian beetroot salad with a Singapore twist and the lamb maqluba (Arabic upside down rice).
What is some of the feedback you’ve gotten from Yallah Dining guests so far?
Most people have never tried any of these dishes as they have never been to those countries so they were happy to be able to try them at Yallah! Diners also enjoyed the fact that they could learn about important issues through a unique dining experience, as opposed to learning through a lecture or a formal event. Many have said that they really enjoyed the food and experience.
Read more: How this Champagne house is combatting climate change—one bottle at a time
Above Salat vinaigrette is also served in a kueh pie tee cup, as an ode to the traditional Singaporean delicacy
Above Maqluba, or Arabic upside down rice
Salat vinaigrette is also served in a kueh pie tee cup, as an ode to the traditional Singaporean delicacy
1 / 2
What are some of your favourite dishes from your experience working abroad?
I have met people from all walks of lives and many different cultures, and indulged in a diverse range of food and drinks, including some rather unconventional ones. My personal favourites are barbecued camel meat in Chad and goat's blood larb in Laos.
What motivates you to keep doing what you do?
I’m driven primarily by my desire to develop innovative solutions, to embark on new challenges, and to challenge the norm, with the overall objective of solving problems that would ultimately contribute to improving people’s lives. The fact that some people might draw inspiration from me motivates me to keep going. I’m stubborn like that.
Is there anything you hope Singapore’s affluent and influential demographic can learn and do more about?
I think that Singapore’s affluent and influential are already very supportive of social and environment issues, be it through donating funds or using their influence to raise awareness of issues. I hope that they can expand their support beyond Singapore, and to consider supporting extremely vulnerable communities that we don’t hear about much in the media, and also to contribute to social economic growth in other Asian countries and even globally.
