The Irish Lebanese cultural foundation held its first International tabbouli making competition in Kilkenny on Saturday 27th of October 2007 at the Club House on Patrick Street. The event was presided by a judging panel composed of the secretary of the ILCF Christine Coman, Michel Farah, a Lebanese architect, and Sally McKenna, from Bridgestone Food Guides. The contestants were four: Muneer Zabad, a Lebanese from Sierra Leone, Colette Shannon from Kilkenny, Rachel McMullan from Dublin, Simon Khaireddine a German Lebanese. All contestants were given the same ingredients and have used their own recipes to make Tabbouli. With the fine aromas of mint and parsley the contestants kept the audience waiting and anxious until the judges started their round of tasting and marking points. The panel had given marks for their Tabbouli tasting based on texture, balance of bulgur and parsley, lemon and presentation.

The organizers, the Irish Lebanese cultural foundation had put this event forward to achieve many goals of which the celebration of the Lebanese heritage, the artistic licence of Tabbouli making, especially that there are many countries in the Eastern Mediterranean claiming this heritage to be theirs. And above all reintroducing the original taste of Tabbouli and setting the Tabbouli making recipes right.

An overwhelming support was extended by the people from Kilkenny to this event, particularly by the Bridgestone Guides editor Mr and Mrs McKenna who obliged us with their kindness.

It was a valid point to state that Tabbouli had lost its savoury appeal because of misinterpretation of recipes. We are aware that variety has its way in Lebanon as Tabbouli varies from one region to the other. The original taste that we have loved about Tabbouli was found when the judges declared Simon Khaireddine to be the winner of the 2007 competition. Tabbouli servings were passed on to all the attendants who vividly applauded the competitors at the end of the ceremony. The winning recipe will be sent for publication to all food magazines in Ireland and Britain.