Oum Ali – A Saj Story
Mona El Dorr is from a village in the south of Lebanon called Majdelzoum. She is known as Oum Ali. For over a decade, she has put her heart, strength and soul into keeping the culinary traditions of her village alive. She has defied the norms of her village, as an empowered working woman, to maintain these traditions. Mona has traveled the world, spreading her artisanal recipes and sharing Lebanon’s authentic culinary heritage with many.
- Directed & produced by: Nay Aoun, funded by USAID
- Date of release: July 2018
- Language: Arabic
- Sub-titles: English
The Queen of Kibbeh – Suzanne Douaihy
Suzanne El Douaihy is the Queen of Kibbeh. Kibbeh is a traditional Lebanese dish made of bulgur, minced onions and finely ground beef, lamb or goat mixed with local spices and herbs. It is famous and very much appreciated across the country. Suzanne is from a town north of Lebanon called Zgharta, the second biggest city in the North of Lebanon, after Tripoli. This region is famed for its kibbeh. For thirteen years, Suzanne has been making kibbeh, and has become famous across Lebanon selling her food in local farmer’s markets and catering to customers upon demand. She proudly continues to spread her knowledge and recipes to all.
- Directed & produced by: Nay Aoun, funded by USAID
- Date of release: June 2018
- Language: Arabic
- Sub-titles: English
From Farm to Table: Coara - The First Lebanese Vegan Restaurant
Walid and Maysoon Nasserdin opened the first Lebanese vegan restaurant in Lebanon serving healthy vegan and bio food in an authentic green atmosphere. Coara sits on a hillside in the heart of the Chouf mountains, in a village called Kfar Katra, overlooking the land which they nurture to grow their precious ingredients. For decades, the couple have put their love into every single dish to create a beautiful and unique concept based on Lebanese food heritage.
- Directed & produced by: Nay Aoun, funded by USAID
- Date of release: April 2018
- Language: Arabic / English
- Sub-titles: English
For the Love of Thyme: The Man who Cultivates Lebanon’s Wild Herb
Mohammad Ali Neimeh, better known as Abu Kassem’s life revolves around zaatar, the wild thyme of Lebanon. During the Israeli occupation of South Lebanon, he needed to change the way thyme grows, out of fear he would be shot or shelled trying to get to his plants. The changes that he implemented have seen huge changes in the way that thyme is grown now in Lebanon. This is his story.
- Directed & produced by: Nay Aoun
- Date of release: Sept 2017
- Language: Arabic / English
- Sub-titles: English
Terwi2a : The Lebanese Breakfast
Take a morning trip with Sami to discover the enchanting world of traditional Lebanese breakfast foods. Based on the book "From Akkar to Amel, Lebanon's Slow Food Trail", this documentary will take you on a virtual voyage to the land of thyme and honey.
- Directed & produced by: Carole Mansour
- Date of release: 2008
- Language: Arabic
- Sub-titles: English
Lost Cheese of the Lebanese Mountain – Darfieh Cheese
High up in the mountains of North Lebanon, at about 2,000 meters in altitude deep within the Ehden Nature reserve, the Douaihy farm has been making fresh Darfiyeh, a deliciously pungent goat’s cheese, for over three generations.
- Produced by: Barbara Massaad
- Directed: Mark Abouzeid
- Date of release: Sept 2016
- Language: Arabic / English
- Sub-titles: English
Lost Cheese of the Lebanese Mountain – Serdeleh / Anbarees Cheese
Serdeleh, Ambarees ‘Siredeleh’ or ‘ambarees’ is not a rennet-coagulated cheese, but rather fermented raw goat milk. It is produced in the Bekaa Valley in eastern central Lebanon where it is called ‘ambaress’ and in the western central Shouf area where it is called serdeleh. Meet Ezzat and Abla Maged who have dedicated their lives to making this delicious cheese in Niha, Shouf.
- Produced by: Barbara Massaad
- Directed: Mark Abouzeid
- Date of release: Sept 2016
- Language: Arabic / English
- Sub-titles: English
Keeping it in the Family: 100 years of Dibs Kharroub
In a small village in Lebanon, one family have been making Dibs Kharroub (Carob Molasses) for over 100 years. 80 year old Fadwa, her husband Menhem, and son Georges have been making molasses together in a small village Ksaibeh, Mount Lebanon. Fadwa learnt how to make this delicious condiment from her family, and would sneak to meet Menhem late at night to teach him how to make molasses against her father’s orders. Hardly anything has changed in the way they grow, pick and process carob molasses.
- Directed: Nay Aoun
- Date of release: December 2016
- Language: Arabic / English
- Sub-titles: English