Mazi Mas

Mazi Mas to Put Down Roots in Hackney; Global Flavours Come Home to The Russet. Migrant and refugee women bring rich cultural dishes to East London.

They will be blessing our kitchen with their presence from January through to June 2016.

Rustling up traditional dishes from the likes of Peru, Brazil, Nicaragua, Ethiopia and Iran, Mazi Mas’ women chefs have a cult following for their deliciously rustic dishes. Mazi Mas’ produce is sourced locally and sustainably, not because it’s fashionable but because that’s how their mothers taught them..

Mazi Mas, meaning “with us” in Greek, was founded by Nikandre Kopcke in homage to her godmother, a Greek immigrant who never had the chance to live out her dreams of opening her own bakery. The social enterprise offers training, paid work and support into full-time employment to women who often don’t have access to networks needed to find meaningful work. “One of the main factors involved in moving women from long-term unemployment to employment is confidence building. It's a lot of work but the payoff is massive too. For your food to be received and to be applauded is a big deal,” says Kopcke.

Already Mazi Mas’ chefs are stars in their own right, and their recipes, handed down through generations of women, are causing a culinary stir in London. The team crafts a menu that brings its guests different tastes from around the globe every night. With generations of culinary tradition, each chef brings her own spirit to Mazi Mas’ menu. Zohreh Shahrabi from Tehran is an advocate of saffron in her dishes to ease depression, while Azeb Woldemichael invites guests to enjoy her rich Ethiopian creations “slowly and with family”.

This spring the pop-up’s offering will be as diverse as the women themselves, with mezzes and mains changing daily depending on who’s in the kitchen. Mazi Mas will still be serving all-time favorites like cassava chips with chili mayo, and pão de queijo, by Brazilian kitchen manager Roberta Siao, for any fans worried they might have to go without the exquisitely gooey, cheesy dough balls so hard to find in the UK. With coriander, cumin and a kitchen full of passion, the dream team at Mazí Mas invites London to eláte na fáte mazi mas: come eat with us.

Email rachel@therusset.co.uk to book.

We have vouchers available, 2 courses for 2 for £30...the perfect gift for friends and family.

This week Mazi Mas will be serving food in The Russet Thursday - Saturday evening.

Click here to view menus