It's been a while, I know! Sometimes when there are too many things going on in your life, it's best to keep silent.
So I have been silent on the blog ...
In spite of the pain of what my country is going through I decided to act. I did this with my work - writing a new cookbook. It's done, actually it's being printed as I write these words. It was not easy to work under these dire circumstances, but there are always good people out there who believe in your work and open doors to give you a helping hand. The book is called Forever Beirut: Stories and Recipes from the Heart of Lebanon (Interlink Publishers) with a foreword written by Chef Jose Andreas (who arrived with his team to help after the Beirut blast). The book will be available for sale in all major bookshops in the USA and on all online platforms around the world in summer 2022.. You can pre-order a copy today. For each book sold, $1 will be donated to the Lebanese Food Bank to fight hunger in Lebanon.
I gave my blog a new look, do you like it? Sometimes, it is necessary to make changes to grow.
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| "The images are raw, fragile, sensitive, shocking, emotional, and true." |
WHY FOREVER BEIRUT?
* This is a summarized exert from the book.
"On August 4, 2020, a massive explosion shook the port of Beirut—and with it, my world and the worlds of all who love Lebanon. But its aftershocks also hastened an unraveling of the country’s fabric that has been going on for years. Political instability, unemployment and poverty, the Covid pandemic on top of a refugee crisis, shortages of basic necessities such as gas, electricity, housing, medical care, and food—the country seems to be hurtling toward the abyss. But like other countries in the region and our world, Lebanon has faced disasters before. And as Fairuz’s popular song reminds us, how can we help but love our homeland? So, like anyone who loves and cares about the city of Beirut and Lebanon, how could I not try to do something? And the way I lend a hand—and my heart—is with food. I write cookbooks, so I decided to work on a book highlighting 100 recipes of our culinary heritage, to conserve and safeguard this treasure. I wanted the book to help share our culture and to raise funds to support the work of the Lebanese Food Bank, who are doing such great work feeding families in need during these dire times. I portray our culture with my affection and nostalgia for the old Beirut, mixed with our present fate, through words and images that are raw, fragile, sensitive, shocking, emotional, and true. The streets of Beirut never cease to inspire me, offering glimpses of faces of the many different communities of this country and reflecting the emotional roller-coaster ride we are living on a daily basis. A recipe is so much more than just a set of ingredients or a to-do list. It can be a custom that brings us to our senses, enabling us to reflect on, embrace, and preserve the ties that bind us. All the tiniest steps described in preparing these dishes are small, indispensable gestures of caring in which cherished memories of trust and of closeness to loved ones are stored for safe keeping. My hope is that remembering and retracing them may help heal and renew us, in times like these”.
Here are some reviews of the book for those who had a sneak peek.
"Through Forever Beirut, Barbara Massaad puts into evidence the vast traditional and authentic culture of Lebanese cuisine. Her recipes are enriched by context and stories that make the reader understand the particularity of this beautiful food heritage and shows why the Lebanese are so rooted in their gastronomy. During the difficult times Lebanon is facing right now, this work is a sign of peace and hope.” — Carlo Petrini, founder, Slow Food International
“I applaud Barbara Massaad’s vital work in preserving Lebanese culture and its unique culinary traditions. Her inspiring new cookbook, Forever Beirut, offers a multilayered vision of a city, its people, and its cuisine with recipes, stories, and photography that truly and effectively honors the spirit of Beirut. I will cherish this book.”― Alice Waters
“A Lebanese love letter … From the sumptuous array of traditional Lebanese recipes to Barbara’s stunning photos and stories that jump off the page and into our hearts, Forever Beirut is an essential cookbook for those many of us across the globe who cherish Lebanon and her culinary traditions. We owe a debt of gratitude for this celebration of a country that has endured and given so much. I hardly know where to begin in my excitement to taste every glory here.” ― Maureen Abood, chef and Lebanese cookbook author
“Food has a way of bringing people together. Cooking and sharing food with people and loved ones is a basic ritual around the world. And what a beautiful way of capturing the life and soul of Beirut through food.” ― Sami Tamimi, chef and award-winning author of Falastin: A Cookbook
“This book beautifully captures the spirit of Beirut … And it’s not just about Beirut; it is a global book, connecting every city and country that has been touched by immigration of the Lebanese people.” ― Chef José Andrés
“Forever Beirut is an aftershock of love to the rich cuisine and kind people of our beloved Beirut. The book warms your heart with beautiful pages that embrace what many Lebanese hold on to so dearly to heal and keep going.” ― Anas Atassi, author of Sumac: Recipes and Stories from Syria
"Barbara Massaad’s lovely new book brilliantly captures the soul of my favorite city as well as the indomitable spirit of the Lebanese people. The authentic and enticing recipes serve as a great introduction to my beloved country’s cuisine but they’re also a reminder of the many ways in which food connects and enriches us, even through the dark times."― Greg Malouf , Australian chef and award-winning cookbook author
