Paris they say, is the capital of lights, fashion and perhaps more importantly for me, gastronomy. And yet, Paris, despite what many American tourists may think, is not always the best place for eating at any street restaurant.   

A taste of Lebanon at the Tate Modern

Is a museum a showcase for arts and antiques or has it become a "living space" where one can see art, eat and shop?

Museums nowadays are no longer the cold and dead display spaces they might have been; they've become places to meet, socialize and live. Especially in vibrant cities like London or New York. One can go to the MOMA just for lunch, to the Tate for a drink or even better: for a Lebanese dinner!

When talking about food, it’s love at first bite – not sight – with Marije Vogelzang, a Dutch designer and foodie, whom I met a few months ago in her wonderful Amsterdam studio.

Food is not just about talking of what’s in your plate, Marije made me realize. For one, there might not even be a plate. In one event she recently organized, plates were made of sugar, in another of bread ... both edible.

Rather, it’s about everything relating to it ... mainly a message that stays in the mind and heart and not just the belly!

The craze for all things organic and calorie-free

Koulouna lel watann – all for the nation – says the Lebanese national anthem!

But what is a nation? A land? Some stones, mountains and valleys ...

The dictionary defines a nation as a large aggregate of people united by common descent, history, culture or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory.

In my eyes though, what really unites people is not a country or a territory, but the common memories that form particular traditions and beliefs. A nation is also the sum of production, life, history, industry, food and agriculture.