Orwa Almasoud: Authentic Syrian food with a story

Orwa, born and raised in Syria, has been living in the Netherlands for nine years. The war forced him to leave his life and family behind, including his university studies and work as a music teacher. His Syrian degrees are not recognized here, so he had to chart a new path in the Netherlands.

From traffic controller to caterer

Orwa works daily as a traffic controller, which he enjoys immensely. Besides his work, he has a passion for cooking, something he enjoys doing as a hobby alongside his job. Since a few months he has been running his own catering company, Delftenaar Catering, where he serves delicious authentic Syrian and Lebanese dishes.

More than forty dishes on the menu

Orwa cooks from home with his wife. He masters more than 40 traditional dishes: from starters and main courses to sweets. Commissions come through him - from birthdays to municipal projects such as Delft Voor Elkaar. People taste his food, are enthusiastic and pass it on. So it grows step by step.

Working from home: practical and personal

The choice to work from home is a conscious one. It gives Orwa and his wife the space to combine work and private life. A restaurant would demand too much - in terms of time, costs and energy. Catering better suits their situation and what they want: to work flexibly, at their own pace. 

Growing in small steps

A big challenge is the limited space for cooking. Larger jobs actually require a professional kitchen, but they are expensive to rent. Through the Delft Boost Lab program, Orwa is working to expand his network and find new opportunities. His dream? Running three to four assignments a day, without compromising on quality.

Entrepreneurship with a purpose

Besides his love of cooking, Owra also has big ambitions as a traffic controller. He dreams of designing traffic signs himself, advancing to a higher position and eventually even managing a team. His advice to others who want to be entrepreneurs is simple: 

"Work hard and make sure you know people. Building a good network is very important"

With Delftenaar Catering, Orwa shows what is possible when you put your full effort into something. His food brings people together - and at the same time tells his story, without the need for words.

Orwa Almasoud is a futurist within New Future Lab and is affiliated with the Delft Boost Lab program.

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