Hello.

Hey, I'm umnuh (um-nuh), which means Noah's mom but no one actually calls me that.

Hey, I'm Maryam!
 
I started this blog as a way to learn, save and share my mom's Middle Eastern recipes. Growing up I never wanted to learn how to cook but after having my own kids I realized how distant I was from my culture and how sad my cooking tasted. 

I started recording my mom making a couple of dishes on Instagram stories and before you know it I was making food at home. 

Other than passing down family recipes and sharing memories with my own family, we also explore and highlights small businesses the east end of the city- mainly Durham Region.

Highlighting and promoting small business is so important to me because of my own serial entrepreneurship journey in the events and marketing space and new restaurant venture. Also, as the founder of Durham Region's first creative arts incubator (not-profit org), a restaurant owner and mom of three kids under 9- I know a thing or two on how to get sh*t done.  

It all started with a business plan that included a full view of any one of my businesses, including a financial plan. Going through this process is not only very insightful and important for any new business but also mandatory when seeking investors or support. I have a step by step business planning manual for anyone looking to start and register a business in Ontario. 

Connect with me if you or your Durham Region based business would like to be featured in the next video or post. 

Maryam Afana-Bayoumi