Tourism & Hospitality | Sunday 27 December, 2015 12:04 pm |

On the 16th of February 1976, the ‘Lebanese Brasserie’ concept was born in the heart of charming Achrafieh district in Beirut, Lebanon. As the first dining establishment in the entire Achrafieh region, BouBouffe Lebanese Brasserie has managed to become the first of its kind renowned for high quality products and fresh local ingredients.
Michel Aramouni is the man behind the successful blend of traditional, local cuisine with diverse international dishes. The influences of the French culture on the Achrafieh region are evident in the name ‘BouBouffe’, which originates from the French word ‘bouffe’ meaning ‘food’.
When Michel opened BouBouffe’s doors, he could not have imagined that his brasserie would grow into an idol of Achrafieh and impact the community known for its flourishing triumph. During the Lebanese Civil War, BouBouffe acted in bonding a compassionate society.
Not only did it bring locals together during a time of hardship, it also become a well-known meeting point for the region and quickly began to serve food to all of Achrafieh. During this time, even Lebanese politicians appreciated the taste of BouBouffe and felt the spirit that arose behind a man with a vision. 
It all started with simple yet mouth-watering Chawarma, Manakeesh and French-style steak with handcut French fries. Following the success of this intimate menu, a full-fledged menu was developed offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serving authentic Lebanese dishes as well as International specialties. Homemade daily dishes and its distinctive charcoal-grilled Chawarma gave BouBouffe its well-deserved stellar reputation. 
In the summer of 2013, Michel decided to change the pace. The Lebanese Brasserie relocated to a trendy, casual dining venue with an open-air terrace while still retaining its authentic identity and offering its highly regarded specialties. As an eco-friendly Lebanese Brasserie, BouBouffe values hygiene, recycling and degradable products.
In 2015, after 39 years of success in the Lebanese market, Michel decided, along with his partners at BouBouffe International, Ralph Nader and Galal Mahmoud, to venture outside of Lebanese borders and share the taste of BouBouffe with the rest of the world.  
Choosing the United Arab Emirates as their first international venture, a Master Franchise Agreement was signed in early 2015 between BouBouffe International and Addmind, the management group behind the renowned White and Iris.  
“In order to properly introduce the Lebanese Brasserie concept to the world, we were seeking a strategic partner with extensive experience in the UAE to help us expand our concept on new grounds; we found this in Addmind” said Michel.  
On the 12th of November 2015, BouBouffe Lebanese Brasserie opened in Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi, marking the very first BouBouffe UAE to open internationally. As part of a three year expansion plan, two BouBouffe Lebanese brasseries are set to open in early 2016 in Dubai: one on Sheikh Zayed Road and
                                                                                                                              
the other in Business Bay. Further, three more outlets will open in Dubai and Abu Dhabi between 2016 and 2017.  
Tony Habre, CEO and Founder of Addmind, commented: “As leading pioneers in the nightlife and entertainment industry, which we have become very famous for in Lebanon and the UAE, we were in the course of developing a strategy to position Addmind in the food industry as well. BouBouffe International presented itself as the perfect partner; the synergy between the two teams will result in an incredible end product that will take the UAE by storm”.