Chef Alia El Askalany

My name is Chef Alia “Lulu” El Askalany and I am an Egyptian chef, culinary consultant, and olive oil sommelier whose work bridges Mediterranean influence with Egyptian terroir. Fascinated by food from a young age, I pursued formal training at Le Cordon Bleu London in 2014, continuing my hands-on development at London based establishments such as Jamie Oliver’s Recipease & L’Atelier des Chefs. I later refined my craft at the Florence Culinary Art School in 2017 and completed the Cook the Farm agro-culinary program in Sicily in 2020, exploring ethical sourcing, food heritage, and Sicilian traditions.

In 2022, I became the first Egyptian female chef certified by ONAOO Scuola in Liguria as a professional olive oil taster—adding a highly specialized sensory dimension to my work. I’ve collaborated with leading regional brands, designed culinary experiences across Egypt, the Mediterranean and India, and continue to share my philosophy through workshops, tastings, recipe development, and consultancy.