Owning the marketing agency Eat, Soufian Mamlouk got his start in the restaurant world by opening Barley, a cereal bar, in Little Burgundy in 2017. The place is working very well, and a plan to open a second one was even on track before the pandemic. But in the meantime, a desire was born in the restaurateur and Mayim Z Salomé, then chef at the Barley, to reconnect with their Lebanese roots.
Posted at 5:00 p.m.
This is how the idea of Lulu, a grocery counter that brings out the flavors of Lebanon, took shape.
The menu is inspired by Lebanese street food: delicious man’ouchés cooked in a traditional Lebanese stone oven, tasty sandwiches served in thin flatbreads called marqouq, made on the spot (shawarma, shish-taouk or even batata, garnished with fries!) and grilled meats cooked over charcoal.
For Soufian, the Lulu is the opportunity to discover the flavors of his country in a modern setting, with a decor signed by the Gauley Brothers, but also – and above all! – to give back to his country. “A big part of this business is dedicated to supporting the Lebanese,” he explains. The grocery section, set to grow over time, features products imported from Lebanon, and collaborations, for example with Ya Habibi Market, a clothing brand whose profits go to charities and organizations in the Middle East. . He also founded an agency, called Sienna Wines, which will soon import wines from small Lebanese producers, including a selection to take away will be offered at Lulu.
2507 Notre-Dame Street West, Montreal