At the Tabouleh Btijmaana event, as with all other Food and Feast activities, farmers and producers from across the country will be invited to sell their food products at the temporarily set up Souk El Tayeb Market. For the first time, local cooperatives from South Lebanon and the Beirut suburbs (Dahieh) will be provided with stalls to sell their home made produce, vegetables, mouneh (traditionally preserved food), spices and other products indigenous to their respective areas.

The activity will also provide producers and residents of these areas with the opportunity to visit Beirut in an effort to encourage inter-community exchange, promote inter-regional dialogue, a better understanding of Lebanese inter-regional traditions and hence a better understanding of the “other”.

By using food as a tool or reflection of Lebanese heritage, the Food and Feast Festival 2008 aims to highlight the deepest values of those living in Lebanon today, exposing local identity groups to the different existing historical and cultural identities, heritage sites and diverse food traditions, with the primary aim of bringing to light what it means to be Lebanese. Tabouleh - a dish that comprises the primary colors of red, white and green is symbolic of the Lebanese flag and hence is a unifying element for all citizens.

The main attraction at this event is that participants from across the country will compete to prepare the best tasting tabouleh: the best traditional tabouleh, most original creation and favorite winter tabouleh. A panel of distinguished judges: Rola Ajouz, a board member of the Beirut Municipality, Dr. Antoine Daher, Editor-in-Chief of Elle Orient, Joyce Zablit head of AFP Lebanon, culinary expert Joe Barza, and Joumana Salameh of Hospitality Services, the organizers of the Garden Show. In addition, a “united version” of the tabouleh, which is a combination of the recipes from different regions of the country, will be made onsite with the participation of guests hailing from diverse areas.

The next Food and Feast 2008 event will be held in Batroun, North Lebanon under the theme Samak Lubnan from 28-29 June 2008.