Thuraya wins global award for launch video; cookbook ranks among top 4 worldwide
A Jordanian-produced video for the acclaimed cookbook Thuraya: Recipes from Our Family's Kitchen in Jordan has won Best Video for Book Launch at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, setting the stage for further recognition as the book vies for three additional global honors this June.
Authored and self-published in Canada by Jordanian-Canadian writer Nadeem Mansour, Thuraya is now a finalist in three major categories: Best Mediterranean Book, Best Family Book, and the coveted Best of the Best award—where it stands as one of only four books competing for the top honour, having already earned the Best of the Best logo. As the first English-language Jordanian cookbook to reach this level of international acclaim, the achievement underscores the power of diasporic storytelling and its ability to resonate across cultures.
'This journey began in my mother's kitchen in Amman and came to life here in Canada,' said Mansour. 'To have our video recognized as Best Video for Book Launch is a deeply emotional milestone, especially ahead of what could be a historic showing for the book itself.'
Filmed and produced in Jordan, the award-winning video captures the heart of Thuraya through vivid storytelling, culinary artistry, and emotional connection. Viewers are invited into a world of aromatic spices, generational memories, and shared meals that transcend borders.
The video was named after the author's mother. Thuraya is both a tribute to family and a celebration of the immigrant experience. It features over 120 recipes that bridge cultural traditions and modern tastes, bringing the warmth of Levantine cuisine into kitchens across the world. First launched in Amman in July 2024, the book was introduced to Canadian audiences at the Royal Ontario Museum in February 2025, as part of the museum's ROM Talks series and in collaboration with its renowned Widad Kawar Collection of Arab heritage.
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