Hey, I'm Rana!
Hello, I’m Rana, and I’m so glad you’re here.
I grew up in Zarqa, Jordan, where food was never just about eating. It was how my mother showed love, how our family connected, how we celebrated every moment worth celebrating.
The kitchen was the heart of our home, filled with the aromas of za’atar, sumac, and fresh bread baking in the oven.
When I was 16, my life took an unexpected turn, and I found myself in the San Francisco Bay Area. Those early years were challenging, a new country, a new culture, new everything. But one thing that made me fall in love with my new home was the food.
The Bay Area’s incredible diversity, the farmers’ markets bursting with fresh produce, and the way people from all over the world brought their food traditions here reminded me that food is a universal language.
Your Introduction to the Mediterranean Lifestyle
Here’s what makes me different from other food bloggers: I bring 30 years of professional food industry experience to every recipe you see here. I’m not just a home cook with a blog; I’m a former café owner, recipe developer, and co-founder of a successful organic gluten-free granola company. I’ve tested recipes at commercial scale and understand what truly works in real kitchens.
Every single recipe on this blog is tested at least twice before I share it with you. I include detailed step-by-step photos for every recipe because I never assume you know a technique. When you follow my recipes, you can trust they’ll work. I’ve done the hard work, so you don’t have to worry.
Finding My Path
In 2001, I did something that felt both terrifying and absolutely right: I opened my own café in Marin County. Every morning, I’d arrive before sunrise to prep, cook, and get ready to feed my community.
Those years taught me so much about what it means to cook for others, to create recipes that must work perfectly every single time, and to listen to what people actually want and need from their food.
Later, my daughter Sandra and I built an organic, gluten-free granola company together. We developed recipes, sourced ingredients, figured out production, the whole journey.
I’ve also worked as a recipe developer and food consultant, helping other businesses bring their food products to life. These experiences gave me a deep understanding of recipe development. Still, more importantly, they taught me that the best recipes are the ones people actually make and come back to again and again.
The Journey That Changed Everything
In 2024, I spent three months traveling through the Mediterranean, 11 countries, 42 cities—immersing myself in the authentic Mediterranean lifestyle. I took cooking classes with top chefs in Morocco, Barcelona, Greece, and Italy. I wandered through farmers’ markets, talked with locals, and learned regional variations of dishes I’d grown up making.
That journey showed me something important: Mediterranean isn’t a diet you go “on,” it’s a lifestyle you live. It’s about valuing fresh, seasonal ingredients. It’s about taking time to cook and share meals with the people you love. It’s about movement, joy, and savoring life, not restriction or rules.
What you’ll find here
- Recipes from my mother’s kitchen (see Traditional Mediterranean Recipes).
Mediterranean-inspired creations, simple, flavorful, and doable at home (browse Mediterranean Recipes).
Step-by-step photos and clear instructions so you never feel lost.
Tested recipes (at least twice) before they make it to the blog.
My approach
Fresh, whole ingredients you can find at a regular grocery store (stock your Mediterranean Pantry).
No processed shortcuts, just real food, the way I learned to cook.
Weeknight-fast options for busy days (peek at Quick Dinners), and slow, traditional dishes for when you want to linger.
Why I’m here
To share a way of cooking and living that feels meaningful to me: fresh ingredients, simple preparations, and meals shared with people you love (learn more about Why Mediterranean).
Who this is for
- Curious about Mediterranean cooking and want to try something new
- Looking for healthier meals that your family will actually eat.
- Reconnecting with your roots and the flavors from home.
- Simply craving something delicious
Whatever brought you here, I’m so glad you came. “`
Welcome to my kitchen
This is my kitchen, and you’re always welcome in it.
Let’s cook together. And if you want the newest recipes, seasonal menus, and class updates, join my newsletter.
New here? Start with the 7-Day Mediterranean Kickstart.
Happy Cooking
Rana Madanat
