My book is out: Beirut or in Dutch: Beiroet!

The word is out my book is there! The Dutch version of Beirut: Beiroet. Recipes and stories from a Mediterranean city. I’m trilled and proud. I put my heart and soul in this book. The timing this period couldn’t be more strange or you might say more Lebanese....in these times of revolution, change revolt and economic distress! I feel like the dish maghlouta (meaning mixed in Arabic and also served up in the book) : mixed up joy hope worries but at the same time proud in capital letters of my friends in positive revolt who are like family and beloved second home. Some weeks ago i cooked on the square in downtown Beirut and I saw unity hope courage and strength like never ever before. There was a massive wave of love in the air. Gave me goose bumps.

My hopes are that my Beiroet will help to bring another narrative to the western table. One with insane good food and beautiful traditions, talented loving people and a bursting joy for life. Way beyond partying and war stories. Way beyond their incompetent and corrupt leaders. The people deserve that the world listens to their outcry (and all of them). They deserve big change. And they deserve that we keep on going to this amazing land! Yalla Beirut!!

Photography by : Tanya Traboulsi, Art direction & design: Richard Kahwagi, Creative styling: Maaike Koorman. Graphic design: Annelies Dollekamp Publisher: Nijgh en van Ditmar