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ZAHLE, CITY OF GASTRONOMY UNESCO Creative Cities Network Published by UNESCO Regional Office - Beirut with the support of the Municipality of Zahle First edition October 2013 Based on the Idea of and under the supervision of Eng. Joseph Kreidi Reseach & Content Chérine Yazbeck Photography © Chérine Yazbeck Design Chantal Coroller Printing RAIDY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED, STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS, ELECTRONIC, MECHANICAL, PHOTOCOPYING, RECORDING OR OTHERWISE, WITHOUT THE PRIOR PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER. THE PAPER USED IS RECYCLABLE The ideas and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of UNESCO. TABLE OF CONTENT 1. MANAGEMENT TEAM P8 2. VISION P10 3. MISSION P12 4. GEOGRAPHY P14 5. COMMUNITY P16 6. STORY OF THE CITY P18 7. RESOURCES P26 8. CULTURE & TRADITION – poetry, literature, photography, painting… P34 9. ECONOMY P44 10. GASTRONOMY P54 11. FARMERS P76 12. THE GRAPE ROUTE: OF WINE AND ARAK P84 13. FESTIVALS & CULTURAL EVENTS P98 14. PARTNERSHIP P104 SOURCES P106 APPENDIX P106 7 owners, industrials, politicians, > From the Municipality of Zahle Aziz Wardy, owner of winery Wardy, 1. MANAGEMENT entrepreneurs, cultural main figures President of the Municipality: Joseph Zahle. TEAM and tourism experts who expressed a Maalouf ([email protected]) ([email protected]) great interest in joining the ‘Creative Elise Estephan Tamer, lawyer Jean-Paul Khoury, owner of winery The idea of Zahle joining the Cities Network’ that would put Zahle and teacher at Law University. Château Khoury, Zahle. ‘Creative Cities Network’ came up on the map and encourage the city to Chairwoman of Zahle Municipality. Sébastien Khoury, wine expert and naturally formulated by Joseph acquire a regional and international ([email protected]) owner of Domaine de Baal, Zahle. Kreidi, Programme Officer for status of gastronomic city. The Youssef Skaf, municipality ([email protected]) Culture at UNESCO-Beirut Office. two main zahliots that helped me counsellor Michel Mhanna, food specialist, fulfil this project are Khalil Geha, a owner of oldest Berdawni restaurant, Mr. Kreidi appointed Chérine Youssef Kerouni, lawyer and co- prominent figure of Zahle and Irène Mhanna, Zahle. Yazbeck, a local food culture owner of a press group. Alouf, owner of an eco-friendly Jean Arabi, mezze expert, owner of specialist to fulfil the task. Zahle has Samir Mallo, dentist, member of the organic boutique hotel in Zahle. This Casino Arabi, Berdawni, Zahle. been committed for over a century Municipality. achievement would also connect Pascal Nmeir, owner of Casino to the spread and recognition of Michel Ballech, lawyer & counsellor. Zahle to other cities that are already Nmeir, Berdawni, Zahle. traditional Lebanese food. Elias Chamoun, counsellor. part of the global network. Elie Ghattas, chef and owner of As a long-time gastronomy leader restaurants in Zahle. in the region, Zahle intends to The Team that will work on > Administration & culture of Clément Tannouri, Zahle develop the cultural food heritage the follow-up of this project is Zahle photographer, writer. (info@ with ambitious projects. With its composed of committed locals. Said Gédeon, executive at Bekaa clementtannouri.com) assets, Zahle aims to attract even Chambre of Commerce and Rosine Zahlaoui, founder of Artisan more visitors into the region by > Point Person Agriculture. ([email protected]) guild, Zahle. supporting the creative local food Chérine Yazbeck: Project Khalil Geha, CEO of Geha company, Kamil Skaff, owner of Skaff Farm. community. Coordinator and specialist of the history of Zahle. Barbara Abdeni Massaad, food [email protected] ([email protected]) writer, author of ‘Mouneh’. As the person responsible for the Lebanese food expert, food writer, Feyrouz Chamoun, founder of Zahle Nicolas abou Fayssal, owner of project, I have contacted the main journalist and photographer. Historic Museum. Gardenia Grain d’Or, food company, actors of the food industry working Author of ‘The rural taste of Zahle. hand in hand with the Municipality Lebanon – a food heritage trail’, ‘Le > Food experts & hospitality Walid Mouzannar, member of of Zahle and at its head, Mr. Joseph Liban Gourmand’ (a foodie guide), Irène Alouf, owner of an organic L’Académie Internationale de la Maalouf. I met a substantial number ‘Le Liban Autrement’ (ecotourism guesthouse in Zahle. (irene@ Gastronomie, Lebanon. of farmers, small-scale producers, guide), ‘A Complete Insiders Guide beitelkroum.com) Kamal Mouzawak, founder of the foodies, restaurant owners, to Lebanon’ and the ‘Shouf Cedars Johayna Dawalibe, nutritionist in Farmer market, Souk el Tayeb. pastry shop owners, bakeries Reserve’ guidebook. Zahle 8 9 together with cities across the world to share its story and connect with many cultures as it has always proven to do throughout the centuries. It is even more significant now that the Middle East is going through turmoil and major changes in the scope of the Arab Spring. Zahle finds itself in the middle of this (re) evolutionary process. The aim of this application is to enable the city to push forward new diversification projects by attracting new contributors in many fields and mainly in the food sector. Zahle wishes to encourage and unite creative small-scale farmers, artisans and producers in order to acquire the local economy based on good and fair food alongside a sustainable and reliable farming. Residents of Zahle and to a certain extent the Bekaa residents have always been keen on safeguarding their traditions through handicrafts and the transmission of food heritage. They feel a certain pride in 2. VISION story and culture of the city that fair trade, exchange, know-how and the preservation of this expertise. lies at the crossroad of many routes. diversity. In the event of integrating Zahle to Gastronomy and Zahle are strongly Harvests, the land, the attachment ‘Creative Cities Network’, the city In the scheme of designing the connected since decades. Located in to local produces, the respect of would boost gastronomic programs project application to integrate Zahle the midst of the agricultural region Mother Nature, the connexion to the focused on the tradition linked to into ‘Creative Cities Network’, we of the Middle East, Zahle enjoys an region are elements that have been modern techniques. The incentive would like to establish the legacy ideal place whereby regional cultures driving Zahle for centuries. would draw the path of a renewed of Zahle as the heritage city for mingle and interact. Natural resources are essential yet active region whereby locally regional food. Unesco confidence ‘Creative Cities Network’ would assets to the city and they all end up produced food would be highly and focus on the city would certainly empower the strengths of the local designing a unique cultural profile. represented and promoted giving a initiate a general interest into the communities to join and improve Zahle has a strong will to come serious push to local economies. 10 11 3. MISSION Zahle wishes to apply to ‘Creative Cities Network’ in order to boost the local economy driven mainly by its gastronomic assets. The city is already a main actor in the region when it comes to food heritage culture and would like to generate a global interest on the regional wealth, food. The city would enhance food related projects as well as investments in the sustainable food production. Indeed, the city intends to develop interests in fair and organic food processes that would draw a better future to the food industry alongside a healthier and environment driven agricultural economy. Zahle is a city with a strong rural identity. It is located at the heart of the Bekaa Plateau in a sparsely populated region. Zahle boasts a long-lasting culinary tradition with a stunning gastronomic culture based on locally produced sustainable food. The objective of being part of ‘Creative Cities Network Unesco’ is to place Zahle on the global map and to raise interest in preserving its regional input. 12 13 foothills of the mountain, at the valley into the plain and waters the outskirts spread vertically on steep 4. GEOGRAPHY Western edge of the Bekaa plateau, gardens of Zahle. hill slopes, and the town features an with Mount Sannine 2,628 metres Zahle has a delightful prospect of elevation difference of more than A blessed geographical location towering above it. It is on the brow the fertile plain – once referred to as 200 metres in a narrow geographical of a mountain of which there are “the grain warehouse of Rome” and area. Zahle is 50 kilometers far from sublime views of the extensive the surrounding outlook enhances it The Berdawni was at a time the Beirut, in the heart of the country at vale bounded on each side by lofty serene atmosphere. town’s source of drinking water and an equal distance between the north, mountains. The hills form a narrow valley, its most prized natural emblem. the south, the east and the west. Zahle is built in an inlet of the an extension of a ravine to the The river winds through the valley, Hence, it enjoys a strategic location mountain, on a steep ascent, northwest (“Wadi el Arayesh” or fringed with masses of foliage, in the most renowned fertile land. surrounded with vineyards. The Valley of Vines). in which tall and stately poplars Zahle is built upon a series of river Berdawni issues from a narrow Due to its unique topography, Zahle predominate the rich vineyards clothing the whole slopes of the mountains and wild glens that furrow their sides. Climate Zahle enjoys a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot and dry summers and cold and chilly winters, where most of the precipitation is concentrated. However, due to its high altitude and inland location, in the rain shadow of the Lebanon mountains, its climate features some continental characteristics: summers are hotter than coastal areas, with peaks of 38°C in summer together with low humidity.

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