As part of the Club activities, the chefs of Phoenicia Hotel Beirut and a selected group of guests made their way to Jbeil, the historical city of Lebanon, on Friday December 7 for the second unique dining experience. Their destination was the hills overlooking Jbeil, where local business Gourmet Mushroom grows and harvests varieties of mushrooms. The trip lasted from 9:00am until 1:30pm and included a tour to learn more about the cultivation and the selection of mushrooms which include White Button, Portobello, Grey, Yellow & Pink Oyster, Golden Enoki etc. The group was treated to a live cooking demonstration by Phoenicia Hotel’s chefs who used Gourmet Mushroom ingredients in their dishes before serving a delicious tasting experience for guests.

The visit was intended to show support for the local mushroom production and to raise awareness amongst Phoenicia Culinary Institute's guests of the importance of local businesses in providing the hospitality industry with premium ingredients. This is in line with the project mission to unceasingly strive to discover and master the culinary arts, drawing on Lebanon’s culture and culinary diversity as well as the Phoenicia Hotel’s heritage.