Bringing Palestinian flavours to London's streets: Eman's journey with Bisan Bites

Reflecting on her journey in a recent interview with McCain and KERB, Eman shared, “At the beginning, I was afraid people would not accept me. But it’s been the opposite, people are very welcoming.” Despite her initial fears, especially during the Gaza conflict, Eman found Londoners eager to try her Palestinian dishes, filling her with pride.

Maqluba, a traditional Palestinian delicacy and her hero dish, stood out due to her talent and dedication. The food development session provided as part of the programme helped translate this dish for a street food market, while financial backing from McCain enabled her to fully equip the business and realise her dreams. Today, Bisan Bites thrives at KERB markets across London, catering events, and festivals. Eman’s ultimate dream of opening a small restaurant feels within reach, bolstered by the confidence and pride she gains daily. Her journey is a testament to resilience and the power of sharing cultural heritage through food.

Bisan Bites often trades alongside Samarkand Palav and UTOPIA, two other businesses that found success through Streets Ahead, fostering lasting and supportive connections.

Streets Ahead has successfully transformed lives through street food. Watch Eman’s full interview here.

You can follow Eman’s journey on her socials @bisan.bites or McCain’s @mccainfoodserviceuk where you can find out more about all 26 businesses that have now received start-up investment through the Streets Ahead programme.

The McCain Streets Ahead programme, powered by KERB aims to support the foodservice industry by creating an immersive programme that looks to upskill and create opportunities for less-advantaged individuals keen to break into the sector. Together, over the past 2 years they have nurtured the skills and street food business ideas of over 200 participants and McCain has invested over £200,000 into 26 independent start-ups, so far.