Mum & I restaurant wins the French culinary award

The owner of Mum & I restaurant, Samia Massoud, won the International Culinary Institute Award, reportedly the second given to a Lebanese restaurant since the inauguration of the award in 1990 by the Paris-based academy. Massoud opened her eatery in 2012 in the National Museum neighborhood with an estimated capital of USD 200 thousand. In an interview with Le Commerce Du Levant magazine, Massoud said she did not want the venture in the beginning, as she worked in advertising at An Nahar daily newspaper. Later on, she delved into the business of imported wear which was not up to her expectations in profits. Eventually in 2015, Massoud told the magazine reporter, she chose investing in the culinary profession by preparing and selling homemade meals. But with the increasing demand on her cuisine brands, she decided to open up a restaurant at Badaro close to where she lives. According to Massoud, when she first picked the location, there was no bistro or café in the area which is known as a hub for many public institutions and ministries, the justice palace and universities. Massoud offers traditional Lebanese menus she learned from her mother, and is famous for unique dishes rarely found in regular diners, such as fried cauliflower, Kebbeh arnabiyeh or artichoke with meatballs, in addition to a set of mezzeh and continental dishes. A crew of 9 female cooks help to keep the restaurant standing, Massoud boasted, pointing that the average meal price per person is around USD 20. (Le Commerce Du Levant, April, 2017)