Yvonne M. Maffei, Ma Email & Phone Number

"I am passionate about driving innovation in the global Halal economy, combining my expertise in international business, culinary arts, and food security in order to create meaningful and lasting change." — Yvonne MaffeiYvonne Maffei is a leading expert in Halal Global Cuisine, recognized as a chef, culinary consultant, author, entrepreneur, and independent researcher specializing in the Mediterranean diet and food security. In 2008, she launched the first website dedicated to Halal cooking, promoting cultural understanding and advocating for the availability of Halal products in schools, hospitals, and the marketplace. Her work has been featured in prominent media including CNN, The New York Times, Forbes, and NPR.Yvonne's journey is documented in the Chicago History Museum's Oral History of Muslims, the Aga Khan Museum in Canada, and the book “Halal Food: A History”. She has been a guest at the Obama White House and a repeat host of U.S. Department of Health & Human Services community health programs. As the first independent ambassador for Halal food promotion in the U.S. and internationally, she has advised the government of Uzbekistan on gastro tourism and presented business opportunities for the Halal consumer market at the Islamic Development Bank and Yale University and has also been a guest chef at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. Her consulting work includes helping Aramark to establish the first all-Halal dining facility at NYU Manhattan and she is currently involved in a similar initiative at Cornell University. Yvonne’s academic research has been published in the Food Studies Journal and presented at World Halal Summit Istanbul and Cornell University’s Language of Food Conference. Recent projects include a collaborative study on innovative camel milk products for economic development within the global Halal economy.Yvonne's culinary interests, influenced by her Sicilian and Puerto Rican heritage, have led her to explore the cuisines of al-Andalus, Arab Sicily, and the Ottoman Palace. She has traveled extensively throughout Italy, Spain, France, Morocco, Greece, Turkiye, Jordan, Bosnia, Croatia, Mexico, and the Caribbean, enriching her culinary expertise. Recently, she launched Oil of Anatolia, offering premium Turkish olive oil to U.S. consumers. Her cookbooks include My Halal Kitchen: Global Recipes, Cooking Tips, and Lifestyle Inspiration (2016) and Summer Ramadan Cooking: Recipes and Resources for Healthy Meals All Month Long (2013). Yvonne currently divides her time between San Diego, California and Vancouver, Canada.

Listed skills include Blogging, Social Media, Publishing, Food Writing, and 46 others.