Tabbouli Competition organized by WLCU Ireland on Oct 25th in Kelkenny

This year’s event was held at the prestigious Club House Hotel kilkenny with four competitors two from Ireland, one German and one Venezuelan Lebanese, and a panel of three Judges Architect Michel Farah of M J Farah & associates in Thurles, Simon Khaireddine the winner of the Tabbouli competition 07 and owner of Skyview Restaurant in Weston Airport Dublin, and Christine Coman, secretary of the ILCF (Irish Lebanese Cultural Foundation).

The judges had marks based on the texture of Tabbouli i.e the parsley,Tomato and Wheat ratios and the Lemon and oil ratios and finally presentation.
Each of the competitors had tried to get close to original recipes and finally the judges had unanimously recommended to proclaim Mrs. Ghada Aridi’s Tabbouli to be the winner of 2008 competition.

Mrs. Aridi is Venezuelan born Lebanese who lives in Cork. The 2d winner is Mr Ivan Shannon from Kilkenny who used an old Lebanese recipe of leaving the burgul unsoaked and be sprinkled just before serving. The other participants, i.e.: Mrs. Colette Kiely and Mr. Gharib Hammoud a German Lebanese were particularly remarkable with their flavor and taste. The winner was presented a Tabbouli Kilkenny Crystal Ball specifically designed for the competition. The attendants and participants all went for a treat at the Grapevine wine bar with Belly dancers that came especially for the occasion from Dublin and entertained a joyful crowd for two hours with exclusive dances from the Middle East. Chef Simon Khaireddine presented platters of Lebanese delights: Falafel, Hommus, Kafta kabab and vine leaves to a number of Grapevine patrons.

The Irish Lebanese Cultural Foundation thanks the Club House, Ian Brennan and his staff for their wonderful support and for hosting this event for the second consecutive year. The Ilcf next event will be Lebanon Independence day on the 22d of November 2008.