A Mezze Survey

I conducted a survey on Facebook, where did you have the best Lebanese mezze ever? I am interested to hear people's opinions. I am presently writing a book on Mezze. I having so much fun doing it and I think finally that's the most important. I once read a saying: " Success is a journey, not a destination". My journey is full of interesting facts to learn (about food, life, and people). If you want to add anything to this list or have something to say about the subject, please do. Also, looking for friends to come and eat at these lovely places... I'm so getting FAT!


Anne Valluy Berj el hamam faouzi autostrade
November 19 at 7:01pm via mobile · Unlike · 1

Anne Valluy Ou 3abdelwahab... Best fatteh
November 19 at 7:01pm via mobile · Unlike · 1

Nadim Ghantous Fayyat, Sin Elfil.
November 19 at 7:02pm · Unlike · 1

Marwan Hadid Fakhr el din broumana & Al Halabi Antelias
November 19 at 7:03pm · Unlike · 1

Rami Salman 3arabi on the berdawni, zahleh
November 19 at 7:03pm · Unlike · 1

Barbara Abdeni Massaad Nadim Ghantous where in sin el fil? new to me.
November 19 at 7:09pm · Like

Hanine Abdel Rahman Al Shamms restaurant, anjar
November 19 at 7:15pm · Like

Nagi Saikali Greatest fattet hommos at Fadel Naas!
Greatest sea food mezze at maguy in batroun!
Greatest usual mezze at chez Alphonse in Ajaltoun!
November 19 at 7:22pm via mobile · Like

Taylor Cheney Nadia Tommalieh's house!
November 19 at 7:23pm via mobile · Like

Gay Mandour in my office.......just kidding :))) My favorite is Karam DT
November 19 at 7:26pm · Like

Nancy Harmon Jenkins In Saida, years ago, at a restaurant near the causeway.
November 19 at 7:30pm · Like

Nathalie Massad Nassif Apart from mums, I really enjoyed Em sharif in ashrafie !
November 19 at 7:31pm via mobile · Like

Jean Francois Massaad Chez fouad hrajel
November 19 at 7:38pm via mobile · Like

Walid Edmond Irani Amareddine is the best
November 19 at 7:38pm · Like

Tony Najjar Burj al hamam - Broumana & Edde Sands - Byblos (Tried them back in 2010 when I last visited LB)
November 19 at 7:48pm · Like

Nadim Ghantous Fayyat is a small joint right behind the new byblos bank branch across from sea sweet. Its in front of the parc (yes, a green parc exists in beirut!). At night, they have a casual singer with oud and derbakeh (no electric organ!). Excellent food with special home dishes. A essayer!
November 19 at 7:49pm via mobile · Unlike · 1

Barbara Abdeni Massaad Thank you all for your precious ideas, i will note them and try all. Working on a project!...
November 19 at 8:01pm · Like

Nada Farhat Foul de chez Michael Monot
November 19 at 8:03pm via mobile · Like

Barbara Abdeni Massaad Nagi Saikali, where in Ajaltoun? How funny was there all summer????
November 19 at 8:05pm · Like

Pandora Boite @nadim which Byblos bank and which park? Sanayeh??
November 19 at 8:10pm · Like

Barbara Abdeni Massaad sin el fil he said en face de sea sweet.
November 19 at 8:11pm · Like

Pandora Boite Yes i only just read the top part... sounds good though..
November 19 at 8:12pm · Unlike · 1

Barbara Abdeni Massaad Does anybody mind if I post your answers on my blog? If you do answer, if not that will mean it's OK. Thanks folks!
November 19 at 8:15pm · Like · 1

Michel El Khoury Chez mona ma femme!
November 19 at 8:21pm · Unlike · 3

Taline Ichkhanian Fadel in na3as!
November 19 at 8:57pm via mobile · Like

Nancy Harmon Jenkins Oh, and I'm dreaming of the foul in a stand in Aleppo, in the New City--I can't even say it in Arabic anymore and it has probably been bombed to extinction by the forces of misrule.
November 19 at 9:17pm · Like

Barbara Abdeni Massaad So sad, I'm so depressed Nancy with this whole situation. When will all this stop!
November 19 at 9:19pm · Like

Fadi Zaidan I think Fadel Na3s, and Halabi Antelias are a tie.
November 19 at 9:29pm · Unlike · 1

Elie Mattar I like Chez Zakhia, best Fattoush
November 19 at 9:34pm · Unlike · 1

Barbara Abdeni Massaad Elie Mattar, where is Chez Zakhia?
November 19 at 9:35pm · Like

Elie Mattar Amchit Barbara, nice authentic sea food restaurant at the beach
November 19 at 9:38pm · Like

Barbara Abdeni Massaad Yes yes I remember, I'm going senile.
November 19 at 9:41pm · Like · 1

Lolita Massaad Samaha Anaya, Fouad Hrajel and El Shaykha Douwar
November 19 at 11:07pm · Like

Sevine Fakhoury Zahran Mehanna!
November 19 at 11:21pm · Like

Veronica Pecorella mmmhhh...thinking thinking...
November 19 at 11:22pm · Like

Impulso Byps Pascale at home:)
November 20 at 8:37am · Like

Kuki Waterstone At a Turkish restaurant in London!
November 20 at 11:35am · Like

Patrick Rahal Chez Fouad THE BEST
November 20 at 2:01pm · Like · 1

Tania Saba Mazraani Le phenicien! Also Sultan Ibrahim and Mounir at times, though quality can be uneven, depending on the season and the rush.
November 20 at 8:49pm via mobile · Like

Kuki Waterstone What are you going to do with all these answers Toutoune?
November 21 at 9:29am · Like

Barbara Abdeni Massaad I am doing a new book on the subject and I hope to go eat at everyone of them, research... hard work you know.
November 21 at 10:45am · Like

Tania Hadjithomas Mehanna if you want somebody to taste....... hihihi
November 21 at 10:49am · Unlike · 1

Rita Ray Akl great news, Barbara I'm sending you the new application form for the ISBN via hotmail ... bisou
November 21 at 10:53am · Unlike · 1

Barbara Abdeni Massaad Thank you Rita, my mail is barbaram@cyberia.net.lb
November 21 at 10:56am · Like · 1

Rita Ray Akl demain matin sans faute
November 21 at 2:06pm · Like

June Nader-Kettaneh Chez Fouad !!!!!!! pour le mezze et pour lui .
November 21 at 4:40pm · Like

Gigi Haimari Massaad Chez fouad sans aucun doute :)))))
November 22 at 3:38pm via mobile · Like · 1

Christmas Fiesta At Al Marej

Al Marej is an organic food store. They are hosting a Christmas party. I've been invited to discuss the Arabic Mouneh. I'm sad that I was not able to print it for this Christmas season. One day or another it will happen. I always have faith. At least I did my "wajbet", meaning duty in Arabic to have it translated (twice)! That's another story...

Terra Madre Changed My Life

Seeing this video (very emotional) makes me realize how important Terra Madre has been to my life, now it's my turn to share this important message with my peers - may the people around me be receptive to it's fundamental ideas and maybe we can all make a difference.

A Taste of Slow

I found this photo while browsing on the net, Slow Food information from all over the world. I'm in love with this one... the color, the message, the romance, the spoon!!!!!!!!! I collect spoons folks! OK, enough. Enjoy. Thanks to the one who shot this beautiful photo, you made my day.

Slow Food Beirut 2.0

Slow Food International is moving towards Slow Food 2.0, stated and repeated in the International Congress at Terra Madre 2012.

Guess what? so is Slow Food Beirut. We've have had our ups and down, to say the least. Regardless, one must move on and look to the future. It is my intention and the one of my peers (we have a wonderful team on board, would you like to be part of it?).

Before going to Terra Madre this year, I made a decision to run for presidency (sounds big) for Slow Food Beirut. Anyone else interested? I am ready. I want to make changes. I want peace. I want positive. My motive is simply to revive the organization and to get more people involved. That's it! I am writing this statement on my blog for everyone to read.

I am grateful to those whom have worked in the past on Slow Food Beirut and continue to do so.

I have a vision and it's purely made of positive thoughts and actions.

ACTION not WORDS. I'm tired of words, I want action for the future Slow Food Beirut 2.0. We are open to everyone and anyone. As long as that entity respects one philosophy: Good, clean, and fair.
Work ethics included of course, and for me the most essential base of all.

Nothing else. I am deeply committed to make this work, but I can't do it alone.

I hope you will get involved, we need you.

Every year, Terra Madre celebrates on the 10th of December it's anniversary. We too are celebrating in Beirut with the opening of a new Earth market in Ashrafieh in partnership with the Earth market in Hamra. The farmers' market will be located in the parking of Dekkenet and Falamanki on Damascus road. We are very grateful to Falamanki and the Dekkenet for giving us the opportunity to have this market open to the public. Mario, you're the best!

For more information: contact slowfood.beirut@hotmail.com

Important official statement from Barbara Massaad (next president of Slow Food Beirut inshallah / Election in January):  I, Barbara Massaad, do not in any way work against anyone or any other organization. I fully encourage all other local markets like Souk el Tayeb and all its producers, Tawlet restaurants (brilliant ideas are born there), and any other organization like Fair trade, IMC, Biomass, Bread Republic, organic food shops and restaurants, etc... (the list is too long thankfully).  We are all working on a common goal. May we all succeed hand in hand, individually maybe but never apart.

Nelly Chemaly ( food activist, presisium leader, interior designer, artist) has written a beautiful letter lately and has given me the permission to publish its content. I hope that this message will make a difference in our future.


Why my presence in Earth & Co.,Souk el Tayeb then Slow Food...?  Whatever name those idealistic enterprises may have. Because I am like you all an idealist.

Why I chose to work with farmers, earth people, (Ahl el Ard), why I chose to be beside Um Ali, to be her sponsor in a way... Because I am an Earth lover by soul.

Why I named our company Earth & Co. and chose to put in our logo people joining hands around the Earth...Because this is what I believe in.

Why I accepted to be a founding member in 2006 of Slow Food Beirut, because I thought at that time that it was for the interest of the farmers/producers.

Why I accepted for a while to be in the producers' committee of Souk el Tayeb, because I thought my presence would make difference for the producers.

All of this is because I believe that the farmers, producers and food communities are essential, primordial. And that they need all the help, appreciation and gratitude they can get.

Our past and present differences and misunderstandings are not their problems, we should not seek to divide but to join our efforts for their sake. We should be interdependent and not divided. We should build upon what is already here: all the great work you have done according to your principles... I don't care what name it is given or who is behind what, even though I adhere with you all...

May God give me the strength to build lots windmills in Lebanon

Stack of Books

A friend on Facebook tagged me yesterday with her book collection. What a pleasure! Thanks Maureen.