Marianne Abou Jaoude

Founder and managing director of Le Passeport Culinaire (The Culinary Passport), Marianne Abou Jaoude possesses a certified culinary travel professional diploma, a Master’s degree in cultural and tourism engineering and a BA in hospitality management, plus 16 years of experience in the culinary and hospitality industries. With Le Passeport Culinaire (lepasseportculinaire.com) travel club, Abou Jaoude takes visitors on culinary adventures around the world, to experience special chateaux, terroirs, farms and Michelin-starred restaurants, offering them a new way to travel and a unique way to experience a destination. In May, she’s organizing a trip to St. Emilion in Bordeaux for Le Passeport Culinaire. She has a special fondness for that part of France: “It’s where I first experienced the harvesting activity in the midst of the first UNESCO vineyard landscape in the world and stayed in a charming chateau,” she says.

Q: What do you love most about your work?

A: The culinary travel cycle is extremely interesting to me. It is the driving force of my day-to-day professional life. The discovery phase excites me the most and motivates me to embark on new culinary adventures.

Q: Name one person who has left a lasting impact on your life and explain why.

A: My former general manager at Le Bristol hotel in Beirut, Mrs. Nazira el Atrache, who is currently my managing partner at Le Passeport Culinaire. She believes in the human being, as well as the potential and talent every person holds in himself or herself.

Q: Where do you go in Lebanon to disconnect from everything?

A: Rashaya al Wadi is one of my culinary rural escapes, allowing me to disconnect and enjoy an escapade in the midst of the meadow, with a shepherd and his herd, while tasting dairy products prepared with goat milk and reading an inspiring book.

Q: Which is your favorite holiday destination outside Lebanon?

A: Tuscany, Italy. To be more precise, the town of Montalcino, where you can taste the finest Brunello di Montalcino wine made of pure 100% Sangiovese grapes.

Q: Which destination would you like to visit and never have before?

A: I would love to travel back in time and visit Vienna, Austria for its unique culture, from classical music, opera houses, coffee shops and museums, to the famous Sachertorte and Apfelstrudel.

Q: If you could go back in time and change one thing about your life, what would it be?

A: Make it a point to think positively, even in times of despair and sadness, and trust people more.

Q: What’s your favorite dessert?

A: Lebanese dessert: Mafroukeh. European dessert: Panettone.

Q: Describe yourself in just one word.

A: Achiever.