Artist's Palate: Michael Rakowitz’s ‘Basra Kiss’
Make a date with Iraqi-American artist Michael Rakowitz's sandwich recipe, infused with an Iraqi cuisine staple, as featured in our monthly artist's recipe series

Leandro Farina - Photography
Dates (a prized Iraqi export often smuggled out and relabelled to circumvent international trade restrictions) have long been integral to the work of Iraqi-American artist Michael Rakowitz. Date syrup cans were the building blocks of his Fourth Plinth installation in London in 2018, a replica of a winged bull sculpture destroyed by Isis. A year later, for a solo exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, he developed this sandwich for the gallery restaurant, featuring a mixture of date syrup and tahini. Witty, wistful and easy on the palate, it’s the perfect embodiment of Rakowitz’s practice as artist and cultural provocateur.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of date syrup
2 tablespoons of tahini
1 large piece of pita or lavash bread, approximately 10” in diameter
4 slices of halloumi or akkawi cheese
1/4 cup of freshly cut mint
Recipe
In a bowl, mix the tahini and date syrup with a spoon. Admire the psychedelic swirls it makes when it begins to blend. In Iraq, this mixture is called dibis wa’rashi.
RELATED STORY
Heat a buttered or oiled pan on the stove on medium heat. Place the halloumi in the pan and fry until both sides turn a sienna brown. Remove from pan to a plate.
Next, spread the date syrup and tahini mixture on the pita or lavash. Place open in the pan on the stove on medium heat. Add the halloumi evenly on top of the date syrup, and finish with the freshly cut mint.
Finally, carefully roll and close the pita up like a burrito, or fold over with a spatula like a quesadilla. Be sure to continue to cook for a few minutes, pressing down on each side like a pressed sandwich.
Cut in half and share.
A version of this article originally appeared in the October 2020 issue of Wallpaper* (W*258) – on newsstands now and available for free download here
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
INFORMATION
TF Chan is a former editor of Wallpaper* (2020-23), where he was responsible for the monthly print magazine, planning, commissioning, editing and writing long-lead content across all pillars. He also played a leading role in multi-channel editorial franchises, such as Wallpaper’s annual Design Awards, Guest Editor takeovers and Next Generation series. He aims to create world-class, visually-driven content while championing diversity, international representation and social impact. TF joined Wallpaper* as an intern in January 2013, and served as its commissioning editor from 2017-20, winning a 30 under 30 New Talent Award from the Professional Publishers’ Association. Born and raised in Hong Kong, he holds an undergraduate degree in history from Princeton University.
-
Mercedes-Benz previews its next-gen people mover with an ultra-luxury EV concept
The Mercedes-Benz Vision V Concept is an art deco picture palace on wheels, designed to immerse passengers in parallel worlds as they travel
By Jonathan Bell
-
Visit this Michelin-star New York restaurant that doubles as an art gallery
Artist Mr.StarCity is exhibiting his emotionally charged yet optimistic ‘Bloomers’ portrait series at Frevo, a Greenwich Village hidden haunt
By Adrian Madlener
-
Nina Runsdorf brings classic jewellery back to life to mark 20 years
New York-based jewellery designer Nina Runsdorf celebrates her eponymous brand’s anniversary with a new jewellery collection, ‘Archive’
By Hannah Silver
-
Artist’s palate: Mandy El-Sayegh’s recipe for Acar
Mandy El-Sayegh’s simple yet layered recipe for Malaysian Acar is the latest dish in our Artist’s Palate series, an homage to our favourite contemporary art
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith
-
Artist’s palate: Lee Bul’s recipe Pyongyang naengmyeon
Enter a new dimension with Lee Bul's gravity-defying recipe for Pyongyang naengmyeon, as featured in our Artist's Palate series, a monthly homage to our favourite contemporary art
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith
-
Artist's palate: Landon Metz’s recipe for cacio e pepe
New York-based artist Landon Metz’s recipe for cacio e pepe is a minimal yet magic addition to our monthly artist's palate series, an homage to our favourite contemporary art
By TF Chan
-
Artist’s Palate: Chiharu Shiota’s recipe for okonomiyaki
Get tangled up in Chiharu Shiota’s recipe for okonomiyaki, from our January 2023 issue’s Artist’s Palate feature, a Wallpaper* homage to our favourite contemporary art
By TF Chan
-
Artist’s Palate: Jose Dávila’s chocolate fudge with pecans
Try Jose Dávila’s indulgent recipe for chocolate fudge with pecans, from our December 2022 issue’s Artist’s Palate feature, a Wallpaper* homage to our favourite contemporary art
By TF Chan
-
Holly Hendry’s mum’s banoffee pie recipe
Gorge on Holly Hendry’s glutinous recipe for banoffee pie, credited to her mother. As featured in our monthly Artist’s Palate series, a Wallpaper* homage to our favourite contemporary art
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith
-
Judy Chicago’s smouldering recipe for Niçoise salad
Experiment with Judy Chicago's trail-blazing recipe for Niçoise salad, accompanied by original smoke sculpture. Chicago’s celebratory dish features in Wallpaper’s October 2021, 25th Anniversary Issue as part of Artist's Palate, a series of culinary homages to our favourite contemporary art
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith
-
Artist Nari Ward's recipe for ackee and saltfish patties
Nari Ward’s staple Jamaican dish offers more than it says on the tin. As featured in our monthly Artist’s Palate series, where we interpret recipes in homage to our favourite contemporary art
By TF Chan