Marahba!
Welcome to Kalām—Arabic for “words and conversation”—a publication for anyone hungry to explore Tunisia through its food, art, and culture. I'm Boutheina Ben Salem, a French-Tunisian cook, curator, and founder of the BabéldeB supper club.
Each month, I’ll bring you a table of tastes & tales: recipes you’ll want to cook for a lifetime, stories that test what you think you know about North Africa, and curated finds.
For now, Kalām is free, like all the best conversations should be.
Who I Am and Why Kalām Exists
For years, I lived by a script of another's writting. Like many children of immigrant parents, I knew the weight of their sacrifices, the dreams they stitched onto me. I wore them like an armour—heavy, protective, and sometimes suffocating.
Despite this, there has always been one through-line:
One day, I walked out of the frame of stability, stepping into kitchens where culture is alive, messy, and fiercely matriarchal. In Tunisia, recipes aren’t written—they’re whispered, kneaded into dough or tucked into the folds of mloukhya leaves. This intimate, unrecorded wisdom ignited my mission: to celebrate and archive these matriarchal food rituals before they fade.
What started as small dinners for friends grew into BabéldeB, a supper club that’s taken me from London’s most exclusive venues —a residency at Carousel, a pop-up at 180 Corner and frying brik at Fortnum and Mason—to pop-ups in Tunis and Marseille, and a month long residency in Paris’ food temple : the 11th distric. Now, Kalām is its next chapter—a platform where I can bring these stories to a wider table.
But this isn’t just about food. It’s about reclaiming narratives too often filtered through Eurocentric eyes. It’s about showcasing contemporary Tunisia as a place where the past and future dance together: its artists, makers, and storytellers crafting beauty and legacy.
Why Subscribe to Kalām?
If you’re here, it’s probably because you know that food is never just food. It’s politics, geography, and memory. It’s a way to make sense of who we are and where we come from.
Here’s what I’ll bring to your inbox each month:
Tunisian Recipes with Depth
Cultural dispatch
Curated recommendations: From under-the-radar magazines to sartorial gems, I’ll deliver a slice of Mediterranean living you can carry with you.
one or two of the following:
City Guides, Reimagined: Insider tips to uncover hidden gems in Tunisia, Marseille, and beyond,
Inspiring Portraits and craftsmanship Unearthed : The people reshaping Tunisia’s artistic and culinary identity + Stories of pottery and objets d’art that anchor the modern Mediterranean.
This isn’t just a newsletter—it’s a way to slow down, to savour. Whether you’re a curious foodie, an armchair traveller, or a lover of Mediterranean culture, Kalām is here to inspire you to see this region differently.
Let’s continue the conversation. Subscribe now.
B x
Writing for Kalām
I’m always eager to hear fresh perspectives and compelling ideas—especially from emerging writers with original voices.
If you have a story or concept that aligns with Kalām's mission and philosophy, send your pitch to:
hello@babeldeb.co.uk
The pitch call is open to writers in the UK and beyond.
A few tips for pitching:
Keep it short and focused—about three concise paragraphs.
Make sure your idea adds something new to the conversation.
Originality and clarity are key.
Feel free to include links to any of your published work, if relevant.
Rates: £600 for 2,000–2,500-word newsletters, or approximately 30p per word for shorter pieces.
