From the Coast of Kenya to the Heart of Port Perry: The Journey Behind Marwan’s Global Bistro

I GREW UP IN LEBANON, SURROUNDED BY THE AROMAS OF GARLIC, LEMON, OLIVE OIL, AND FRESH HERBS. My mother was an incredible cook, and her kitchen was where I first learned that food is the center of everything. Those Mediterranean flavors—bright, honest, and full of soul, would stay with me wherever I went.

After finishing culinary arts at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, I felt an undeniable urge to travel. My best friends Luka and Alex and my older brother Sam shared that same wanderlust, so we made a pact: once I graduated, we’d take off on a grand adventure together. We didn’t have a destination in mind, only a desire to go somewhere far from the ordinary.

Our first bright idea was to book one-way tickets to London, England. We figured since London was a hub for world travel, we could decide where to go next once we got there. After a few days of staying in budget hostels and visiting countless travel agents, we stumbled on the cheapest tickets we could find: to Nairobi, Kenya. Without hesitation, we booked them. That spontaneous decision marked the beginning of what would become a two-year journey through Africa.

In Nairobi, we heard stories of a remote island off Kenya’s northern coast called Lamu. It was said to be a place of stunning Arabic architecture, narrow cobblestone streets, and donkeys pulling carts through alleys too small for cars. When we finally reached Lamu, it was everything we’d imagined, and more. The island’s beauty and simplicity captivated us. But after a grueling bus trip to get there, we decided we’d had enough of bumpy rides. So, in true reckless spirit, we decided to buy our own sailboat and make our way down the coast toward South Africa.

We spent weeks wandering from village to village, searching for the right vessel. Eventually, in a small fishing town called Watamu, we found her: a traditional wooden dhow. A dhow is a handmade sailboat that’s been used for centuries, with a single triangular sail and a charm that can’t be replicated. We paid about $2000 for it, and that boat became our home for nearly 5 months. We sailed slowly down Africa’s eastern coast, camping on beaches, cooking over open fires, and sharing meals with locals in villages untouched by tourism. Those nights, under endless stars, eating freshly caught fish grilled over driftwood, were magical.

The simplicity of it all changed me. I fell in love with the food, the people, and the purity of flavors that came from the freshest ingredients and time-honored recipes. Of course, life on a tiny boat wasn’t without its challenges. We were four young men living in cramped quarters, facing storms, getting lost at sea, and sometimes going days without talking to each other. We missed Christmas that year, and our parents were worried sick. But somehow, we always found our way back, and those struggles only deepened the bond between us and shaped who I would become as a chef and a person.

When we eventually sold the boat in Zanzibar, I carried more than just stories; I carried a notebook filled with recipes, techniques, and lessons learned from every meal we shared along the way. That trip planted the seed for what would one day become Marwan’s Global Bistro. After Africa, I kept traveling to South America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, India, Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia. I spent nearly seven years in Thailand, drawn in by its people, beaches, and food. I taught English during the day and spent my free time cooking, exploring street markets, and learning from local chefs. Thailand became home, and it’s also where I met my wife, Yui.

Eventually, we moved to Canada, where I returned to my culinary roots. I became the head chef at a small Italian restaurant and later the executive chef at Nature’s Emporium, an organic market. But after a while, I realized I needed a new challenge, something of my own that captured the spirit of everything I’d experienced abroad. That’s how Marwan’s Global Bistro was born. I envisioned a place that was eclectic, vibrant, and unpretentious—a reflection of my travels and the joy of shared meals around the world. I wanted people to come together—friends, families, and lovers—to celebrate life over delicious food that was both comforting and authentic.

In 2014, I found the space that would become my restaurant; it was far from ready. The former establishment, The Front Porch, was in a state of disrepair: broken equipment, filthy walls, and an atmosphere that had lost its soul. What I thought would be a quick renovation turned into a full-blown rebuild. I painted every chair, laid every floorboard, and rebuilt the place by hand, using every ounce of experience and resourcefulness I had.

Then in 2017, I was ready to expand on that idea of connection not just through food, but through atmosphere, music, and conversation. That’s when I opened The Port Social, a cocktail and wine bar with a tapas menu, directly connected to Marwan’s Global Bistro through the dining room. The Port Social quickly became the town’s go-to spot for relaxed evenings, where guests can sip craft cocktails, share small plates, and enjoy vinyl records spinning in the background. It’s casual, intimate, and full of character—the perfect complement to the bistro next door.

Together, Marwan’s Global Bistro and The Port Social have emerged as a reflection of everything I believe in: authenticity, flavor, community, and love. The restaurant may be small, but its story spans continents, from the spice markets of Zanzibar to the street food stalls of Bangkok, from a handmade dhow on the Indian Ocean to a cozy dining room in Port Perry. It’s been a long journey—wild, unpredictable, and beautiful—and every dish I serve is a reminder of how far a dream (and a little adventure) can take you.