Stories of Courage – Maysoon’s Story
- By Plateful Cafe
A Taste of Home: Maysoon’s Journey from Sudan to Building Nubian Delights in London
When Maysoon Mohammed talks about food, she isn’t simply talking about recipes.
She’s talking about family.
She’s talking about culture.
She’s talking about belonging.
And through every cake, biscuit, and traditional Sudanese dessert she creates, she’s sharing a piece of her story.
Growing Up Between Cultures and Kitchens
Maysoon comes from the Nubian community in Sudan, where food is at the heart of family life.
“My father was an agricultural engineer,” she explains. “Because of his work, we moved to different cities across Sudan every four or five years.”
Those moves exposed her to the rich diversity of Sudan’s regions, each with its own traditions, flavours, and culinary heritage. But it was in her grandmother’s kitchen that Maysoon’s lifelong passion began.
“I started learning to bake when I was about ten years old. My grandmother taught me everything. At first I helped knead dough and shape pastries, and by the age of fifteen I could cook most traditional Sudanese dishes on my own.”
More importantly, her grandmother taught her something that has stayed with her ever since:
“Cooking isn’t just about following a recipe. It’s about sharing love.”
Starting Again in a New Country
Like many refugee and migrant families, Maysoon and her husband made the difficult decision to leave Sudan and build a new life in the UK.
“We wanted our children to have a stable future and access to good educational opportunities.”
It meant leaving behind family, friends, and the support network they had always known.
“It wasn’t easy. In Sudan, you’re never really alone. Family and neighbours are always around. When we arrived in the UK, everything felt very different.”
One of the biggest challenges was language.
“Although I had a good education, I wasn’t confident speaking English, and that made finding work difficult.”
Adjusting to a new culture, different weather, and life far from family brought additional challenges. But Maysoon was determined to create opportunities for herself and her family.
Slowly, she began building confidence by improving her English, attending courses, meeting new people, and becoming involved in community organisations.
Food as a Connection to Home
For Maysoon, food remains one of the strongest connections to her heritage.
“In Sudan, meals are about much more than eating.”
She fondly remembers gathering every afternoon with family around the table to share the day’s main meal, discussing plans, sharing stories, and spending time together.
Later in the evening came another cherished ritual: milk tea served with traditional treats such as Lugaimat and homemade biscuits.
“Relatives and neighbours would often join us. There was always conversation, laughter, and a feeling of togetherness.”
These memories continue to inspire her cooking today.
Turning Passion into a Business
Wanting to preserve her family’s traditions and introduce Sudanese culture to new audiences, Maysoon founded Nubian Delights.
What began as a way to share traditional Sudanese baking has grown into a thriving business.
She started by creating authentic favourites including Kahak, Petit Four, Basbousa, Kunafa, and Bastah.
As demand grew, so did her range.
Today, alongside traditional Sudanese desserts, Maysoon also creates beautiful celebration cakes, cupcakes, and bespoke baked goods while remaining firmly rooted in her heritage.
Every order tells a story.
Every bake celebrates culture.
Every customer experiences a small taste of Sudan.
Passing Culture to the Next Generation
Despite building a new life in the UK, Maysoon is passionate about ensuring her children remain connected to their Sudanese roots.
“Food helps my children understand where they come from.”
Traditional meals are a regular feature of family celebrations, and her children often take Sudanese dishes to school International Days to share their culture with classmates.
“It’s something they’re proud of, and that makes me very happy.”
Through Nubian Delights, Maysoon is also helping others discover Sudanese food for the very first time.
Finding Confidence Through Plateful Café
When Maysoon discovered Plateful Café, she immediately felt she had found a place where her skills and experience would be valued.
“What stood out to me was that they don’t focus on the barriers people face. They recognise the skills and experiences we already have.”
Through Plateful Café, Maysoon completed training in cake decorating, hospitality, cooking classes, and cooking with children.
The experience helped her develop new skills, grow her confidence, and strengthen her business.
“Plateful Café also gave me opportunities to promote Nubian Delights and introduce more people to Sudanese baking.”
Today, her business continues to grow, reaching new customers and expanding its offerings while remaining true to its roots.
More Than Food
When asked what she loves most about Sudan, Maysoon doesn’t hesitate.
“The people.”
“No matter what challenges Sudan faces, people support one another. Neighbours are like family, homes are always open, and everyone is willing to help.”
That same spirit of generosity and hospitality is reflected in everything she creates.
Whether she’s baking traditional Nubian treats, preparing celebration cakes, or sharing recipes with others, Maysoon continues to build bridges between cultures through food.
Her journey is a powerful reminder that refugee entrepreneurs bring not only resilience and determination, but also skills, traditions, creativity, and culture that enrich our communities.
And through Nubian Delights, Maysoon is ensuring that a treasured piece of Sudan continues to flourish in London.
Discover More
To learn more about the work of Plateful Café and how we support refugee chefs and entrepreneurs to build skills, confidence and careers through food, visit our website.
You can also follow Maysoon’s baking journey through Nubian Delights, where traditional Sudanese baking meets beautiful celebration cakes, cupcakes and desserts.
Instagram: @nubiandelightslondon
