{"id":76506,"date":"2023-03-15T18:31:45","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T18:31:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=76506"},"modified":"2023-03-16T02:18:46","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T02:18:46","slug":"her-stepdads-dying-wish-was-for-leila-to-open-a-restaurant-and-now-shes-done-just-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2023\/03\/15\/her-stepdads-dying-wish-was-for-leila-to-open-a-restaurant-and-now-shes-done-just-that\/","title":{"rendered":"Her stepdad\u2019s dying wish was for Leila to open a restaurant\u2026 and now she&#8217;s done just that"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>The mum-of-three has opened the new Yemeni kitchen to serve Cardiff\u2019s Butetown community<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>KEEN cook Leila Shamsan has set up a Yemeni-western fusion restaurant from the kitchen at Butetown Community Centre after her stepdad encouraged her to do it before he died of Covid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leila, 32, started selling traditional Yemeni food to friends and family during the Coronavirus pandemic but only decided to make a real go of it after stepdad Cyril Payne died, aged 60.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;This restaurant is his legacy,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cyril was known as a pillar in his community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;He was a youth worker for over 30 years in the St Mellons area and like a dad to many of the children who attended the youth centre,&#8221; explained Leila.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The former waitress has made the dream a reality thanks to financial backing from her mum and calling on her childhood friend Dee &#8211; with whom she grew up in Loudoun Square &#8211; to help in the kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shamshack has only been open since March 3, but it&#8217;s going from strength to strength. They offer a discount for pensioners and NHS workers and have even given free meals to hungry kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sadly we must inform all family and friends that Mr Cyril Payne (Ibrahim Abdullah) has sadly passed away &#8211; inna lillah wa inna lillah rajioun.<br><br> Janazah will be held tomorrow :<br>Tuesday 9th November<br>12:40pm <br><br>17 Maria Street<br><br>Please do try to attend and join the congregation <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jc4a2Rn0z6\">pic.twitter.com\/jc4a2Rn0z6<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Cardiff Youth Service (@YouthCardiff) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/YouthCardiff\/status\/1458013391151419392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 9, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Leila also hopes it will bring young people in the community closer together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leila, who used to advertise the business on Snapchat, rents the kitchen in Butetown Community Centre, which overlooks the tower block she lives in with her young children and partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Setting up her business during the cost-of-living crisis, Leila was lucky enough to have her mother, Samira Salter&#8217;s support. The 59-year-old mental health hub worker gave her some money to start up the business.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-76798\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-770x770.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-293x293.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-390x390.png 390w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-585x585.png 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-900x900.png 900w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-76798\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-770x770.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-293x293.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-390x390.png 390w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-585x585.png 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2-900x900.png 900w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-min-2.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Late Cyril Payne pictured with his wife Samira Salter, and stepdaughter Leila. Credit: Leila Shamsan.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Leila cannot yet afford to hire staff, but her childhood friend Dee, 39, is giving her a helping hand in the kitchen for now. Dee was too shy for us to use her surname.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not the first time the pair have joined forces \u2013 they used to cater for funerals at Butetown Community Centre, a place that is both \u201cclose to my heart\u201d and physically close to Leila.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both Dee and Leila grew up in the Loudoun Square tower blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Dee has managed to move out, Leila still lives in the tower block but hopes that her success with Shamshack continues so that she can privately rent a house instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leila and Dee also make sure that they serve hungry children hot meals for free, operating a no questions asked policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>During this cost-of-living crisis, we\u2019ve seen kids that we can tell are less fortunate &#8211; we give them free food. I guess it\u2019s just maternal instinct; both Dee and I are mothers.&#8221;<\/p><cite>Leila, 32<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost-of-living worries her as a businesswoman but the success she has seen within just 11 days of opening has left her with some optimism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was all very daunting at first but hopefully it\u2019ll all pay off!\u201d said Leila.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most popular dish with young people has been the loaded fries, who she hopes to employ when her business is more well-established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I want to make a change with the kids, get them working in my kitchen, and get them selling their own food so they can make money the right way and do nice things like take a trip to Oakwood Theme Park,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>Lots of our customers are youngsters. Getting them off the street doing stuff they shouldn\u2019t be doing like dealing drugs, is important to me.&#8221;<\/p><cite>Leila, 32<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>She encourages her young customers to take advantage of the community centre\u2019s free facilities like internet and heating.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-76602\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-293x220.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-1400x1050.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-76602\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-293x220.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8256-min-1-1400x1050.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shamshack&#8217;s  loaded fries, served with their special sauce. Credit: Zeenia Naqvee.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Her identity as a half-Yemeni half-Welsh woman is important to her cooking. She uses methods popular in Yemen like deep-frying meat, smoking rice on a grill and using clarified butter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leila markets her food as Yemeni fusion, eager to distinguish it from traditional Yemeni cuisine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLots of people in Butetown are Yemeni anyway; they cook the traditional stuff at home, so I\u2019ve made my food a bit different. It\u2019s fusion food with a street food twist on it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The menu includes haneed, a roasted lamb dish native to Yemen and Shamshack special sauce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Leila is a Muslim woman, Shamshack only serves halal food to cater to Butetown\u2019s high Islamic population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI feel like my generation and older are a bit more community minded. When all these young people come in, it reassures me that they\u2019re in the centre rather than the street. I hope it stays this way,\u201d Leila added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coupled with her stepfather\u2019s faith, the birth of her now two-year-old daughter caused a loss of self-worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI had lots of anxiety after having my kids &#8211; I was just \u2018Leila the mum,\u2019 but this has really helped me. My stepdad passed away due to covid, he was the main push, and this restaurant is his legacy. He saw my potential,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;There was a fundraising football tournament in memory of him organised by some of the youths of St Mellons. They even made a trophy with his face on it,&#8221; she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leila opened Shamshack on March 3 and is surprised that she\u2019s received such a warm welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-76848\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-770x770.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-293x293.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-390x390.jpg 390w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-585x585.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-76848\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-770x770.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-293x293.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-390x390.jpg 390w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-585x585.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/Untitled-design-5.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cyril&#8217;s fundraiser trophy pictured above the Shamshack banner, outside Butetown Community Centre. Photo credits: Leila Shamsan and Zeenia Naqvee.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe haven\u2019t made any losses in these four days. The first day was crazy busy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her first ever business venture, Leila hopes to be a role model for her three children, who are aged three, six and 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI want them to look at me and feel they can make a difference to this tight-knit community as well,\u201d said the businesswoman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like many businesses in tight-knit Butetown, customers find her through word of mouth, and she has leafleted in her tower block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Khalid Alaale, 35, works at the nearby Huggard Centre, which supports homeless people and rough sleepers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-rounded\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-76847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-770x1027.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-293x391.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-1400x1867.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-76847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-770x1027.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-293x391.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-1400x1867.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/03\/IMG_8252-min-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Khalid proudly holding Shamshack&#8217;s menu. Credits: Zeenia Naqvee.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>Shamshack is easily the best food in town!&#8221;<\/p><cite>Khalid alaale, huggard social worker, 35<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Butetown Community Centre is close to two mosques, Noor El Islam, and the South Wales Islamic Centre, so Leila hopes to attract Muslim customers after their Friday prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She sources her meat from butchers on Bute Street in order to support local businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She is keen to partner with Deliveroo and UberEats in the future and wants to be a vendor for Butetown Carnival in August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Shamshack is in Butetown Community Centre, located at 40 Loudoun Square, Cardiff, CF10 5JA.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A link to Shamshack\u2019s Instagram page can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/shamshackcardiff\/\">here<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is open every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday between 1pm and 6pm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong> <\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The mum-of-three has opened the new Yemeni kitchen to serve Cardiff\u2019s Butetown community<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":960,"featured_media":76567,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[221,3],"tags":[392,1291,227,8435,398,1638,713,339,8434,494],"coauthors":[8109],"class_list":["post-76506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-butetown","category-news","tag-butetown-2","tag-cardiff-2","tag-community","tag-father","tag-food","tag-news","tag-restaurant","tag-wales","tag-yemen","tag-young-people"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - 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