Beirut Cooking Festival & Salon du Chocolat 2016

Marking their sixth and third editions respectively, the Beirut Cooking Festival and Salon du Chocolat were held at BIEL, rounding off a year that has witnessed great success for Lebanon’s culinary scene. Spread over an area of 2,000 square meters, the exhibitions brought together more than 160 exhibitors specializing in unique food and beverage items, as well as a vast number of companies selling homewares and kitchen equipment. Over 60 celebrity chefs, lifestyle consultants and food and beverage experts shared their know-how with more than 15,000 visitors in a three-day program packed with cooking demonstrations, workshops and master classes.  The Salon du Chocolat opened with a spectacular 50s themed Chocolate Fashion Show. Blending food and fashion, 15 chocolate dresses sashayed down the runway, including an intricate gown with over 8,000 chocolate flowers created by Lebanese designer Rami Kadi and chocolatier Chef Charles Azar. Beirut Cooking Festival’s “Pop-up Resto” offered visitors the chance to enjoy gourmet food prepared by top chefs, with proceeds going to Tamanna, the Lebanese non-profit voluntary organization. Participating chefs included Chef Kamil Bouloot from Abed el Wahab, Chef Youssef Akiki from Burgundy and Chef Maxime Le Van representing ChefXChange.