This dinner is bittersweet for us. At our February 2017 dinner, along with her husband William, Fatima Akel took us to Morocco with the vibrant spices and flavors of the country. In July 2021, after an illness, William passed away. We dedicate this dinner to him and to Fatima’s resilience.

MEET YOUR CHEF

Chef Fatima Akel

Fatima was born and raised in Belgium, as were her brothers and sisters. She obtained her nursing degree and worked in a different department, but the operating room is what she preferred. Fatima loves to travel, meet new people, talk to strangers, and share life experiences.

Fatima’s parents immigrated to Belgium in the 70’s, obliging them to leave behind all they knew. Since they didn’t know what to expect as they adapted to a new country, Fatima’s mom made sure to bring with her some of the fantastic spices she used to cook with. Fatima remembers her mom always cooking traditional Moroccan meals. For her, it was a way to keep herself and the whole family attached to the traditions and the culture of her ancestors.

Growing up, Fatima loved her mom's food; her favorite food was roasted chicken with green olives and preserved lemons or chicken and vegetable couscous. These meals were served on Fridays, the day Muslims gather for prayer, like Sunday service.

At a certain point in her life, Fatima was responsible for taking care of her siblings, which meant that she had to cook for them. She tried to follow her mom’s cooking techniques, and mastered cooking not only traditional Moroccan food, but any kind of food. Fatima likes to guess what the spices are in new dishes and feels comfortable in a kitchen.

In 2011, Fatima met her future husband William and together they were crazy enough to open a food truck business. With her cooking skills and his southern background Socu (Southern Cuisine) was born. They worked hard to bring the best and tastiest food to the Lowcountry. Life was great until William became very ill and unfortunately passed away in July 2021. Fatima was devastated, lost, alone, and needed something to bring her back to life. She needed to keep her mind busy and use her sadness to create something that would make her feel alive. Fatima started baking, and while she never baked before, she now bakes cupcakes, cake pops, and cakes. Baking saved her life.

We’re glad you’re back, Fatima. We love you.