H&H 10 is a new restaurant and cafe set to open soon in New Street in Worcester at the former Monkhouse Schoolwear shop.
The family which owns the business hope the restaurant will bring something entirely new to the city, freshly made and authentic Iraqi cuisine, introducing people to the culinary traditions of their home.
The business will be run by husband and wife team Zana Baban, 51, and Sara Baban, 49, offering authentic Iraqi cuisine. Both were born and raised in Kirkuk in the north of Iraq and have been passionate about opening their first restaurant since they came to the UK in 1999.
NEW: H&H restaurant and cafe in New Street in Worcester (Image: Newsquest)
The name H&H comes from the initials of the first names of the couple’s two children, Hano and Helen, while the 10 is described as the family’s ‘lucky number’.
Zana Baban said: “It is a dream come true. It has been a dream for many years. There is nothing like this in Worcestershire at all and we as a family want to improve the reputation of Iraqi food.”
FAMILY: L-R Hano Baban and his parents, Sara and Zana Baban at H&H 10 in New Street in Worcester, an Iraqi restaurant coming soon (Image: Newsquest)
In a statement, the family said: “Sara has always enjoyed baking and sharing her creations with friends and family and Zana has always loved cooking meals and sharing different flavours with others.
“And this has been the moment where their dream has finally come to life, and they are able to share their creations with the people of Worcester.”
The logo for the business was designed by their son, 20-year-old Hano who studied digital marketing.
SPACIOUS: One of two seating areas at H&H 10 in New Street, Worcester which is set to open soon (Image: James Connell/Newsquest photos) He has been helping his parents market the new business venture which the family aims to open ‘as soon as possible’.
The restaurant is expected to seat around 36 people downstairs and has two dining areas with all food made freshly from locally sourced ingredients.
Hano Baban said: “You don’t really hear of Iraqi restaurants until you get to Birmingham. I haven’t really heard of any other Iraqi restaurants and think it’s probably a first for Worcester. We want to present it really well.”
WELCOME: A seating area in H&H 10, a new Iraqi restaurant which is poised to open soon in New Street in Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest photos) The hope is the business will be open in the morning for breakfast between 9am and noon before mains are served between noon and 10pm although the opening hours have yet to be confirmed.
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Other mains include chicken shish (marinated chicken breast grilled on skewers served with rice and grilled vegetables); lamb shish (marinated lamb grilled on skewers served with rice; Farrouj chicken (with rice and fasoulia stew with marinated chicken cooked slowly for more flavour); chicken wings (specially marinated chicken wings served with chips and a sauce of choice); lamb chops (grilled and specially marinated lamb chops served with rice); Lahmajun (classic Iraqi dish of spiced mincemeat put on a dough and put into the oven).
Desserts include lemon cake, scones, Znoud El Sit (phyllo dough stuffed with milk cream and then fried until golden and crisp); pistachio burma (filo pastry filled with pistachios twisted and baked and topped with saffron sugar syrup).
There are also a wide range of starters to choose from including houmous, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh and fatteh. A breakfast menu includes fried eggs with Iraqi Bastuma, shakshuka and avocado on house made bread with eggs.
A children’s menu is also available including chicken nuggets with chips, chicken strips with and a mini kebab with rice.