The Romantic Keeper of Lebanese Culinary Traditions

Barbara Abdeni Massaad was born in Beirut, Lebanon. She moved to Florida, U.S.A. at a young age and gained her real culinary experience while helping her father in the family owned Lebanese restaurant. After moving back to Lebanon in 1988, she entered university and gained a degree in Advertising-Marketing. She worked for an array of respected institutions, then decided to pursue her passion for cooking and photography. Determined to gain proper experience within the culinary world, Barbara trained with several renowned chefs at Lebanese, Italian, and French restaurants. Man’oushé: Inside the Street Corner Lebanese Bakery, her first book, was first published in Lebanon in December 05. In May 09, she launches the second edition of the book and on July 1 2009, the book obtains an  award from the Gourmand Cookbook Awards in Paris. She is currently working on her second book dealing with an extensive repertoire of traditional Lebanese recipes entitled Mouneh: Exploring the Lebanese Pantry - to be published in 2010. She has been travelling throughout the country recording and testing recipes, taking photographs of her journey, and writing about her experiences. She is a founding member of Slow Food Beirut, and an active member of the International Slow Food foundation. She has contributed articles to local and international publications. She lives in Beirut with her husband and three children, who are very much involved in her culinary journey.

To view her website: www.barbaramassaad.com

To read her blog daily: http://myculinaryjourneythroughlebanon.blogspot.com/