For the first episode in our new series, Sharing Plates, New York-based director Charlotte Rabate headed to the London test kitchen of renowned culinary duo Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi.

Known for their Middle Eastern-inspired recipes, made popular through their London delis, restaurants and series of best-selling cookbooks, much of Ottolenghi and Tamimi's success can be attributed to the warmth of their working relationship. Having both grown up in Jerusalem and moved to Tel Aviv at roughly the same time—Ottolenghi is Israeli-Jewish, Tamimi Palestinian—it wasn’t until they were both living in London that the pair’s paths crossed, and they decided to go into business together.

Here, the duo talk food, family, and what first ignited their shared passion for cooking.