Food for the soul: Lebanese cookbook holds charity event in NYC

posted on: Sep 27, 2016

By Saffiya Ansari

Al Arabiya English

If you believe feel-good food is about more than just taste, Recettes de Vie 2 is the cookbook for you as all sales proceeds from a charity event in New York are set to be donated.

Available in both English and French, the Lebanese cookbook boasts a collection of more than 200 original recipes from the friends and family of Authors Maissa Abou Adal Ghanem and Ghia Khayat Hawari, all of whom share culinary secrets and tasty treats.

The pair are set to host a charity night in the Big Apple on Wednesday, with proceeds going to charities that defend the rights of women and children in Lebanon and the Middle East.

“We feel that women are the center of the family in the region and the backbone of the Middle East society. Helping empower women and giving them access to education, health and helping them defend their rights is the way to help this region transform and grow,” Hawari told Al Arabiya English.

After a successful first edition launched in 2008, Recettes de Vie 2 was launched in 2014 in Dubai, London, Paris, Beirut and Singapore.  On September 28, 2016 Recettes de vie 2 will be presented in New York with the launch and signature of the book in a private event at Public by AvroKo restaurant.

“The book concept is based sharing and giving. 100 percent of the proceeds are distributed to charities, so everybody who is participating and buying the book is helping. Holding an event in New York city will help us to develop awareness about Recettes de Vie,” Hawari added.

Hawari previously told Al Arabiya English about the inspiration behind the books.

“When we arrived in Dubai in 2006, we had many recipe books in our kitchen cupboards but we were still calling our mothers to ask for their recipes. We realized that recipes given to us by our mothers made us feel more secure and more confident. Recipes transmitted from mother to daughter, or from grandmothers or friends, guarantee results.

“It’s like a gift, people are giving out their culinary secrets,” she added.