Rawia Bishara was born in Nazareth in the sprawling hills of the Galilee in Israel/Palestine. She immigrated with her husband to New York in 1974. The settled in Bay Ridge and have been here ever since. She has two children, Tarek a Hollywood actor, and Jumana, her daughter and current business partner.
Following years of entertaining and giving endless dinner parties for friends and family, Chef/Owner Rawia Bishara decided it was time to expose her unique culinary style to the world. In 1998, Rawia’s restaurant Tanoreen was born. When asked, Rawia will let you know that Tanoreen was opened as a tribute to her mother's rich culinary heritage. Tanoreen was located on 77th & 3rd Avenue for 11 years before moving to an expanded space on the corner of 76th & 3rd.
Tanoreen is now widely recognized as the number one rated Middle Eastern Restaurant in NYC and has been recognized by many of NYC's most influential food critics and news media, most notably in New York Magazine, The New York Times, The Village Voice, the Zagat Survey, NY1 Cable News, Where the Locals Eat Restaurant Guide and the Time Out Eating and Drinking Guide. Best Mediterranean in the AOL Cityguide, as well as Gourmet Magazine, Plate Magazine, Industry Magazine, & Travel & Leisure Magazine, among many others. As one of New York's leading chefs in Middle Eastern cuisine, Rawia's recipes have been published in The New York Times, New York Magazine and The Daily News and she has taught cooking classes at the DeGustibus Culinary School at Macy's. A Tanoreen dessert was featured on The Food Network and the restaurant has now been awarded the prestigious ‘Bib Gourmand’ prize in the Michelin Guide. Two years ago her peers awarded her the title of Best Chef America in the BCA Guide.

Most recently Rawia has enjoyed tremendous success when she published her first cookbook, ‘Olives, Lemon’s & Zaatar.’ The book is now in its forth printing and is #3 on Amazon’s list of Best Middle Eastern cookbooks.

Rawia Bishara was born in Nazareth in the sprawling hills of the Galilee in Israel/Palestine. She immigrated with her husband to New York in 1974. The settled in Bay Ridge and have been here ever since. She has two children, Tarek a Hollywood actor, and Jumana, her daughter and current business partner.
Following years of entertaining and giving endless dinner parties for friends and family, Chef/Owner Rawia Bishara decided it was time to expose her un