The MyMouné Sisters

The story of my MyMouné dates back to late 80's, these women are wonderful, inspirational and have gone through a lot to make their brand a success (worldwide). I think the video says it all, thanks Youmna and Leila for this memorable day at Ain el Qabou. It was truly heaven!

Life's Journey

The Beginning of a Long Journey
as posted in Poetry of Food

Serendipity "is the effect by which one accidentally stumbles upon something fortunate, especially while looking for something entirely unrelated." You may say "it is written", it is destiny. This is my story, the one I fell upon, the one I am still writing, the one I am struggling each day to produce, to invent, to fabricate, and most of all to create. My life should have a sense. I always felt this from the very beginning. I should leave a trace—

one that is significant to me, to my family, to my community, to this place we call "earth". This trace should make some kind of difference. Someone or something must be better because of my doing —of my continuous efforts. It should be like a faraway scent that produces a memory —a memory of the past, a memory of better days, a memory of the senses, a memory of man's fading goodness ...

It began in my father's restaurant at the age of fifteen. Those were difficult years, but the base of my culinary education. Times passed since those days - I married , had three beautiful children, and still in the back of my mind, the recurring dreams of food related journeys and adventures. A woman's role in a family is maternal. What better way to show your innermost maternal instinct than by feeding your children. Isn't it the first instinct that a child initiates when he suckles on his mother's breast? Feeding your children with your knowledge and wisdom of life's experiences is essential, but also feeding them with real wholesome food made with the most important ingredient, LOVE, is imperative and sets THE example.

"It was written" that I would leave the USA and go searching for my roots in Lebanon, my country of origin. It was destiny, some call her fate, that knocked on my door and showed me the way. It was she that led me to visit all corners of the country in search of food related subjects and matters. It was she that gave me the chance to understand this diversified group of people who have all welcomed me as one of their own. It was she that gave me the perseverance to learn a new trade to capture these moments through the use of my camera. It is she that gives me the strength to carry on to fulfill my assignment—to preserve my country's culinary traditions, to defend its authenticity, to ensure its survival.

Picking Akub in the Shouf with the Massoud Family

Rima and Masssoud Massoud are wonderful people. They live in Ramlieh, Aley. Massoud works the land, while Rima makes mouneh from the produce of her husband's hard labor. She sets up shop every Saturday at Souk el Tayeb selling her products and makes the most amazing manakish (all types including fatayer). I have known them for years. I have seen their children grow up so fast to young handsome adults. This trip to Niha is special to me because the time I have spent with the Massoud family was forever recorded in a beautiful story written in the Mouneh book.The place where they go to pick Akub on a yearly basis is simply breathtaking. Samira, Massoud's sister is phenomenal. She is amazing, full of energy and spunk. I'm really lucky to have moments like these with the people of my country. I really cherish these moments and I wish everyone would stop thinking of politics and just sit and enjoy each others company over FOOD. Is there hope for our country? I'm thinking of a food revolution, anyone interested?

A few pics to share ...