In an interview with IGIHE, Talat shared his story with raw honesty. A professional chef with a master’s degree in hospitality from Damascus University, he began his career blending international cuisines and emphasising sensory experiences in food presentation.
“It’s not only about the food, but it’s also about the plates we present,” he explained. “Eyes eat before your mouth.”
In 2003, Talat moved to Dubai, where he worked in restaurants and hotels before joining the cabin crew and travelling the world until 2009. He returned to Syria to start his own business, but his plans were interrupted by mandatory military service between 2009 and 2011, coinciding with the outbreak of the war.
“My life before was very simple: one, two, three, four, like that,” he recalled. “When the war started, the action in my life started.”
As the war escalated, Talat fled Syria and moved to Beirut, Lebanon. There, he worked for Gear Holding and honed his skills while competing against some of Lebanon’s top chefs. He stayed for five years, unsure of how long the war would last.
“I decided to stay close to Syria… we don’t need to be far,” he said. But the war continued far longer than expected.
A brief detour to Cambodia for visa issues led Talat to search for new, welcoming destinations. In late 2016, he discovered Rwanda, a small country in the heart of Africa that he had never heard of before.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” he admitted. During his flight, a cabin crew member reassured him, saying, “You are going to the most beautiful capital in Africa.” Those words calmed his nerves.
Upon arriving in Kigali, Talat experienced something rare for a Syrian passport holder: a genuine welcome. “In airports everywhere, when they see your passport… they look at you like you are someone who’s homeless,” he said. “But here it was a different smile, welcoming, everything was easy. In 30 minutes, they stamped my passport.”
Stepping outside, he felt a sense of “fresh air” and, profoundly, “freedom.” “As a Syrian, we are not free… here I smell the freedom,” he emphasised.
With limited funds, much of his savings lost during Lebanon’s economic crisis, Talat came to Rwanda seeking stability rather than the endless cycle of travel. “I was looking for a home,” he said. “The things I found here… I feel like I’m at home.”
The early days in Rwanda were challenging, as there were few Arabs in Kigali at the time. However, Talat credits two long-time residents, Osama and Mazim (who have since become Rwandan citizens), for helping him find his footing.
“They supported me in all ways… when you learn from successful people, you’ll be successful.”
Talat’s entrepreneurial mindset began to take shape in Rwanda. He noticed a gap in the market: the lack of quality Arabic food. “The challenge was big… there is no Arabic food,” he realised.
This gap led to the creation of Damasquino, a restaurant that combines his Syrian heritage with local Rwandan influences.
Damasquino restaurant at Kimihurura blends cultures with intentionality. The décor merges desert tents and traditional Middle Eastern courtyards with fountains, green farms, and local Rwandan elements.
“We like to mix between desert dirt houses, the tents, and green farms,” Talat explained.
The menu features over 22 dishes that use Rwandan ingredients to recreate authentic Syrian flavours, “real Syrian food… just as you would in the middle of Damascus.”
Beyond food, Talat deeply appreciates Rwanda’s unity, safety, and cleanliness, from the vibrant city of Kigali to its remote villages.
“It’s the same feeling: safe, clean, welcome… like you go to your family house.” He jokingly tells his staff, “If I pass away, just put me to rest here… I want to stay here even in the next life.”
Today, as the founder of Damasquino, Talat is one of the longest-residing Syrians in Rwanda. His story embodies Rwanda’s welcoming spirit and illustrates how one chef transformed his displacement into a cultural bridge, serving food that connects Syria to Africa. For those in Kigali craving a taste of the Middle East with a local twist, Damasquino offers not just a meal, it offers a sense of home to the Syrians.
Watch the full conversation with Talat below.
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