It’s a wrap for the 5th Beirut Cooking Festival and the 2nd Salon Du Chocolat Beirut
MAKING GASTRONOMY GLORIOUS
The three-day extravaganza spanning over 2,000 square meters, showcased the best of Lebanese gastronomy with over 160 exhibitors, industry insiders, beverage consultants and food buffs. The festival coincided with Gourmet Week, which celebrated gastronomic offers across Lebanon.
Speaking at the event, Minister Pharaon said, “Beirut Cooking Festival constitutes an achievement not only on the local but also on the regional level.”
Organized by Hospitality Services sarl, the event featured more than a hundred workshops to demonstrate the latest in culinary trends and cookery techniques. Highlights included a Chefs’ Theater, which taught participants how to create Lebanese favorites by more than 60 of the country’s top chefs, a Lifestyle Theater, offering trade tips from etiquette consultants, florists and food service experts and a Beverage Theater, where top mixologists engaged the crowd with colorful cocktails. Wine experts provided tasting sessions whilst olive oil specialists gave daily talks promoting the benefits of extra virgin olive oil.
In parallel, Salon du Chocolat made its second appearance, kicking off with a star-studded opening ceremony. Under the patronage of His Excellency, French Ambassador to Lebanon Emmanuel Bonne, more than 20 designers and chefs participated in a chocolate-inspired fashion show. The runway spectacle was led by the guest of honor, Lebanese international fashion designer Abed Mahfouz under the theme ‘1001 Nights.’ Industry experts, representatives from famous brand names and confectionary makers all gathered together during the festival to share their knowledge and love of chocolate.
A 15,000-strong audience were welcomed through the exhibition hall’s doors, reaffirming the country’s appetite for gastronomy. Following the event, Joumana Dammous Salame, managing director of Hospitality Services, reflected, “2015 has marked a particularly important year for us as we have witnessed a record number of visitors. At these trying times that our region is experiencing, we are happy to have united people over a shared passion; our common love for food and love for our land.”
The annual Beirut Cooking Festival and Salon du Chocolat took center stage at Beirut’s BIEL exhibition space from the 12th to the 14th of November, under the patronage of His Excellency Michel Pharaon, Lebanon’s Minister of Tourism.