Profession: Entertainment entrepreneur
Resides in: Beirut
Having lived and studied in Canada, Ghazal, 31, flew back to Beirut six months ago and has plans to transform the city’s entertainment scene. He set up Les Enfants Terribles, a company that puts on top commercial events and comes up with concepts for restaurants for the region. With one successful restaurant, BRGR co., and one controversially successful event, Matinee Beach Party, under his belt, Joey has come in to the market taking big steps.
Why Les Enfants Terribles?
I was inspired by the story of the original ‘enfants terribles’, the godfathers of the surrealism in the 1930s, Miro, Breton and Dali. They were three geniuses who were utterly avant-garde and managed to turn an entire era upside down with their bold gestures. Ironically my mother always referred to us as her three ‘enfants terribles’.
Who are Les Enfants Terribles?
It was founded by myself and my two younger brothers, but we are actively recruiting other ‘enfants terribles’ to join our movement for change.
Naughtiest childhood memory?
(After listing several horrific and almost inhuman childhood shenanigans which are too obscene to print; we get to the somewhat acceptable choice): A forest fire that I started with my brothers, because of fireworks.
Why Beirut?
This city is experiencing unprecedented growth in the entertainment sector and is a window to the entire Middle East.
In five words describe the BRGR co. concept?
Celebrity chef (Hussein Hadid) makes mean burgers!
Best burger in the world?
I’ve had burgers all over the world, but (aside from BRGR co.) my all-time favorite has to be Daniel Boloud’s DBGB burgers.
On a culinary front what’s to come?
Lebanon’s first destination-glamour steakhouse and a typical seaside brasserie.
Can you cook?
I like to think so. Food is my first passion, actually film is my first passion, but cooking is a close second.
Joey Ghazal; entrepreneur or food lover
A bit of both, I have been lucky to be able to make a life out of combining my passion with my career.
What has been your most rewarding and self gratifying event?
The Iron Chef event was probably the most logistically complicated event I’ve ever done. Eight top Canadian chefs, four courses, 2,600 dishes in 1 hour and 20 minutes, eight celebrity judges, six video cameras, a live broadcast and 300 guests judging each chef at every course; raising over 100k USD for the ‘Feed a Child’ Foundation.
Matinee, a calculated career move with a deeper reasoning, or some fun in the sun that got the country buzzing?
Matinee is the most successful international party which has taken place in legendary venues all around the world. Its arrival to Beirut marks our city’s ascent to the official party capital of the world. It’s all about bringing people together regardless of class, age, religion and sexuality.
A message to Beirut society?
Be the change you want to see!
What other events should we expect in the future?
We’re planning a series of events, but whatever they are I can assure you they will ‘push buttons’.
Les Enfants Terribles mainstream or underground?
Bringing a little underground into the mainstream, providing Beirut with some guilty pleasures it can sink its teeth into.
Beirut vs. Montreal?
Montreal made me the man I am today but Beirut has my heart.
