OUR CHEF
The magic in hands is our secret ingredient
Chef Selahattin, better known as Usta in our humble kitchen, is a man of wonders. His way with food has never failed to inspire us, which is why our customers end their meals by licking their fingers. Chef Selahattin’s journey has been incredibly eventful. As a true food connoisseur at heart, his search for the perfect shawarma flavour stretched over a decade. Intrigued by his unwavering passion, we couldn’t help but ask him what the reason behind his dedication was. Needless to say, Chef Selahattin’s endearing story reminded us of all the unforgettable flavours we tasted as children.
The spice maestro
The chef also told us how this was just the beginning and went on, “moving to England opened my world up to many different cuisines and talented chefs, yet that flavour always lingered. After working in the food sector for ten years, it had latched on to me, and I just couldn’t shake it off. So, I decided that I wouldn’t rest until I recreated my favourite shawarma and shared it with all the lovely people of Liverpool. Thus, the whole street-food concept was born while I was looking for a place to eat one lucky day. After several tries, I couldn’t find what I was looking for and knew that I would have to make the shawarma on my own. This was followed by rigorous trial and error whereby I experimented with a lot of spices before I found the perfect shawarma I had tasted as a young kid.”
A recipe of heritage
Chef Selahhatin’s spell-binding story left us in awe, and we couldn’t help but ask the obvious question. What were those special 9 ingredients? However, as expected, he didn’t divulge enough to get us off our toes. “The most I can do is hint at one of the ingredients in the spice blend. Half of its name is also part of the shop’s identity. Think hard; it’s pretty simple.” That’s when it clicked; he meant olive oil, of course! When he saw that we’d caught on to his little riddle, Chef Selahhatin told us how he adds a dash of olive oil to every dish he makes. Be it salads or meats, cooking with olive oil elevates the food. It’s also great for health and enhances the flavour, which is why our customers are always happy.
Working in the food industry for over a decade, our chef has drawn inspiration from various shawarma shops all over the world, seamlessly synthesising the familiar and the unknown to form daringly bold flavours and class. The carefully-crafted menu accentuates the uniquely exquisite flavours that have come to define Olive Branch. This one-of-a-kind and intimate experience will leave you with memories that last a lifetime.
