**Trailer: A Fusion Feast for Eid & Beyond**

This Eid, Zaynab Issa and her family will gather at Sammy’s Kebab House in Queens for a feast blending Uzbeki *kabuli pulao*, dumplings, kebabs, and her own twist on sweets—like date and dark chocolate cookies. Though not traditional, Issa, a writer and recipe developer, embraces *fusion* cooking, a reflection of her Khoja heritage (Indian Muslims with East African roots) and her American upbringing. Her debut cookbook, *Third Culture*, celebrates this layered identity with recipes spanning her grandmother’s baklava, tandoori tacos, and even mall-style cinnamon rolls. For Issa, food is a bridge between cultures—and her cookies? A perfect symbol of that delicious harmony.

—
**Digest:**
Zaynab Issa, a recipe developer with a Khoja-Indian and East African background, celebrates Eid with a mix of traditional and fusion dishes, like date-dark chocolate cookies. Her cookbook, *Third Culture*, highlights her multicultural identity through recipes merging Indian, Swahili, and American influences—from biryani to French onion ramen. Issa sees her cooking as a way to navigate her hybrid identity, offering dishes that resonate with fellow “third culture” individuals and food explorers alike. The included cookie recipe, with tahini and olive oil, embodies her ethos: crispy, chewy, and deeply flavorful.### **Chewy Chocolate-Date Cookies with Tahini – A Flavorful Twist!**

**Indulge in these rich, chewy cookies packed with semisweet chocolate, sweet dates, and a nutty hint of tahini.**

**Step 1:** Whisk together flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt, then mix in dates and chocolate. In another bowl, beat eggs, olive oil, tahini, and vanilla until creamy, then blend in granulated and dark brown sugar.

**Step 2:** Gently fold in the dry ingredients, scoop the dough into portions, and chill for at least 3 hours (or up to 3 days) for the best texture.

**Step 3:** Preheat the oven, line baking sheets, and space out the dough balls. Bake until golden, then **bang the tray** to create a chewier center—don’t forget a sprinkle of flaky salt!

**Step 4:** Let cool slightly before enjoying. Store leftovers for up to 5 days, or freeze the dough for future baking.

**A perfect blend of sweet, nutty, and chewy—these cookies are a must-try!**

*(Recipe from **Third Culture Cooking** by Zaynab Issa, published by Abrams.)*