Ali was born in the Southern Lebanon village, Hola, during the Civil War – a time where the country found itself facing many difficult moments. As a young child, he spent his days with the community’s elders who taught him the traditions of Lebanese cuisine. Cooking and sharing food were an expression of love during these difficulties. Ingredients were cultivated from seedlings – grapes, figs, and olives – and blended into flavors unique and symbolic of the South. At the age of 13, Ali went on to work in the restaurants of the country’s capital and the Middle East’s hospitality hub, Beirut, where he practiced his love for cooking and refined his craft in a professional space. From the many teachings of his community in Hola to the Chefs of Beirut’s high-end restaurants, Ali brings the culinary wisdom of his ancestors to Canada. Located in downtown Toronto, Beirut Bodega is the culmination of Ali's passion: a space dedicated to conceiving and sharing foods from his homeland. more... See more text