AUB Alumni Launching Mediterranean Cuisine Cookbook

A cookbook that can be treasured and enjoyed for years....

To join in the commemoration of American University of Beirut’s 150th anniversary in 2016, the WAAAUB (World Alumni Association of AUB) Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter is sponsoring the compilation of a WAAAUB Mediterranean Cuisine Cookbook. "cookbook that can be treasured and enjoyed for years."
This project will showcase the leadership, expertise, energy and commitment of AUB Alumni globally!

I am really excited for this cookbook as I am an AUB Alumni and I will be on the committee for content editing!

All AUB Alumni and friends may contribute recipes; colored photos are highly encouraged.
Recipe contributors have to include their name, city and state/country for publication. Along with a short introduction, age-old wisdom, or personal story behind the recipe.

Recipe submission begins ~ mid-January 2015.

For more info: http://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/AVB/cpages/news.jsp?chapter=44

The Book of Tea (Book Review)

"The kettle sings well, for pieces of iron are so arranged in the bottom as to produce a peculiar melody in which one may hear the echoes of a cataract muffled by clouds, of a distant sea breaking among the rocks , a rainstorm sweeping through a bamboo forest, or of the soughing of pines on some farway hill " -The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura.

It is hard to write a review for a book that took more than 6 months to read. Take note it is not a long book but rather each word is almost a page on its own. This explains the length of time it took me to read.
Maybe I am a slow reader, but the book holds sophistication within its simplicity.
Some parts, I had to research them and check about a historical, or cultural story so I can feel more connected with the writer. I think the writer has such a strength in his words and stories that you can feel the flow of knowledge transferring to you without him using the technique of reprimanding. Without the Dos and Don'ts....
Philosophical book in all of the word's terms, away from the religious part.
The book dates back to 1906. Even though it was written in a old time, the writer criticises his time of being disregarding some ancient rituals.
It talks about the culture of tea, "The Teasim".

Souk Al Ard: Earth Market in Hamra Street

Fresh Organic Produce from the Farms, every Tuesday in Hamra

During my years studying in AUB and living in Bliss street, I discovered Souk Al Ard in Main street of Hamra. It was my escape from the street buzz,  amid the hectic studies and long working hours.
It was my pleasure to meet the local farmers, see their hand made products, and get from their fresh green treasures!! Street Lebanese Heritage food at its best!

Every time I travel back to Beirut, I make sure to visit this farmer's market. It is a blessful experience to smell the saj, and see all these fresh and organic vegetables, and the pickled jars , marmalade...etc
Lebanese heritage food at its best. My last trip in October, I made sure to visit and do some food shopping!

Home Made Food

Dont miss those tasty saj ( saj is a thin focaccia bread) 

Souk El Ard, ( Earth Market), is located in the alley facing Bread Republic.
Organized by Slow food Beirut, the market aims to offer good, clean and fair food.

Favorite Food Books

Starting this week, I will be introducing my favorite food book of the month.
I have already read a collection of food books, yet never reviewed or talked about them.

If you have a favorite food book, please do recommend it here!
For now, my collection will be updated on My GoodRead.com Food Shelf!
The collection features book ranging from food history, food stories, food science and technologies, as well as culinary books (recipes)

Loulwa's food book

Loulwa's favorite books »

The guy who doesn't read

In reply to "The girl who reads" ... (not a  food related post) and upon a reader's request:

The guy who doesn’t read simply doesn’t need books to understand what life is about, or how humans  act foolishly, or how systems and powers rule the world. He doesn’t read Oliver Twist books as he already knows that life is full of miseries. He doesn’t need Mark Twain  to teach him about civil rights. He doesn’t need Tolstoy to teach him about romance. He knows what nobility and chivalry even before reading Alexander Dumas’s novels.  He never read High Expectations but he knows in life one shouldn’t have high expectations on people and situations.

Talk to him about the authors of the books you read, he won’t remember their names or maybe he will.  He doesn’t have a vocabulary rich language that will make you lost or feel inferior.Neither will he make you feel as an outcast of his thoughts.

What we can learn from spaghetti sauce

 
                
( Tedx Video )
A logical approach to the  nature of choice and happiness by giving an example of the pursuit of the best recipe that consumers will like.
It's all about food science.  How genious! "Psychophysics"  is mostly used as an analysis tool! This video is just what I try to explain to people  when they ask me about my thesis or  my work in  sensory science!  Malcom G;adwell speaks it all ...
Food Scientists should rejoice over this video.... And Ofcorse Food lovers will understand  the passion that drives food scientists to "perfect" a product and will explain to them why they choose a product over another

I will definitly buy Malcolm Gladwell 's blink book!
Bon Appetite,

Loulwa

The Girl who reads

I have a friend who shared this link on facebook:
"Date the girl who reads" .. SO if you are a girl who reads alooot of books, this one article is for you.
And for every guy who is searching for his girl , you might want to take a notice of girls who read :):)
They can change your world .
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2Ebjrc/themonicabird.com/post/3273155431/date-a-girl-who-reads-date-a-girl-who-spends-her



Spoiler : I loved the ending when they said:
....better date a girl who  writes ;)

Frodo's Wisdom

“ Frodo : How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back. There are some things that time can not mend. Some hurts that go too deep... that have taken hold.” JR TOLKIEN .

A great line by the famous writer of the Lord of the Rings Books, JR TOLKIEN. I might have  chosen another line from these books. The script is great, not just random babbling of a writer. Not just a random plot for an  exciting adventure.

 Tolkien's characters are not shallow, they are not  just fighting an evil , they are fighting for the truth, they are fighting for values. They speak eloquently, they speak wisdom. They speak about life, death, patience, trust, and enduring each other for the sake of one aim.

But the main reason I  chose this above quote , because  I have been wondering about this line  for few days. I have been thinking :

 How do we move on? 
How do we forget? 
How does  the book close ?
  Will we ever open it again? Can we? 

Or the book would be burnt already? 
Can time mend everything?
 Can we actually forgive ?

Questions and Questions. No assured answers. 

Time might tell. And time might conceal. 
But I  am sure I will find the answer either in this life, or later....

Inspired and Retired (Food Markets)

Though there are plenty of striking books that I have read and are beyond doubt considered an inspiration for me in food writing.

But there is one particular book .

It is not a narrative, nor an autobiography, neither a coaching book.

Food Markets of the World , is a book with an idiosyncratic adventure, that takes us to  60 different markets around the world. Markets that span from   from the famous Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, to the olive vats of Palermo, to the markets of the south of France, and to the Amish markets of Pennsylvania

The book entices all our senses as we flip through the pictures Nelli Sheffer took and through the description of the prominent food critic Mimi Sheraton.

Mimi Sheraton  makes us feel that we are really roaming these markets with her, choosing the herbs, picking the exquisite vegetables, buying those spices,  bargaining over those fresh fish with the sellers .Indeed, a cultural and historical experience that encourages us to visit these traditional markets  and explore somehow their secrets. Mimi also provides us with recipes and information of some exclusive local foods of these markets.

Nelli Sheffer's  eccentric photographs cannot , but  make these markets alive . The lure of each  place is seen  in the book, such as the  Delhi spice vendor asleep among overflowing sacks of fiery red chilies and heaps of burnished orange turmeric.

Nevertheless, many critized this book as it lacks so much information and it is not really satisfying in terms of its writing and that the photos weren’t alluring to some readers.

It got a rating 3/5  from goodreads website.

However, personally, i consider this book inspired me to start this whole photoblogging activity. So, I took few photos of some of the three markets i visited  so far and i will be posting them separately later. 

And perhaps, when I am retired  or hopefully before, I will inaugurate in this voyage to visit the local markets of each country in the world, because it is these places you learn the essence of authentic and traditional foods. And It is that such places, that teach you the nativity of the land , and the folklore of the locals.

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(This photo is the property of the Publisher of the Book)

Publisher Notes:
In Food Markets of the World, noted author and food critic Mimi Sheraton conducts an international tour through a full itinerary of marketplaces, introducing each region and sharing recipes, market lore, and colorful anecdotes about local culinary traditions. And photographer Nelli Sheffer has traveled the globe to capture in stunning images the spice merchants of Delhi, the floating vegetable stalls of the Mekong Delta, the olive vats of Palermo, the Amish farmers of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and more. Included are markets in China, Egypt, Brazil, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Tanzania, the United States, and Vietnam.
Published October 1997 by Harry N Abrams

more details... ISBN 0810911841 (ISBN13: 9780810911840)

When you love a city

 

" When you love a city and have explored it frequently on foot, your body, not to mention your soul, gets to know the streets so well after a number of years that in a fit of melancholy,perhaps stirred by a light falling ever so sorrowfully, you’ll discover your legs carrying you of their own accord toward one of your favorite promontories." 


This was a sentence I came across as I was reading a historical book for the turkish Nobel Prize winner , Orhan Pamuk, called " My Name is Red". The main characters in the novel are miniaturists in the Ottoman Empire. The events revolve around the murder of one of the painters. Pamuk follows a very unique style of changing the narrator with every chapter. Not just this, Orhan uses different unexpected voices, like the coin , or satan...All these events take place during the 16th century in the city of Istanbul in Nine snowy days.

I dont want to elaborate more on the novel.. I just wanted to express my thoughts about the lines that I posted at the beginning.One of the things that are good about not having a car or driving is that I memorize the streets of Beirut by heart. Orhan Pamuk have said it right.


It is true when you love a city, your whole being drives you to the most place you like, to the place you find yourself, to the most place you feel alone and at the same time you feel you have the whole world in your hands. Such a special place, that you wish you can live in it forever, but you know deeply you can't. There are other places waiting for you but this place will be in your heart forever.