Lebanese food, ‘Lebaneseness’ and the Lebanese diaspora in London

Abstract

Lebanese food, as a cultural tradition, and in the context of Lebanese migration, mobility and diasporic identity, is the focus of this article. We use ethnographic methods in the form of participant observation, focus groups and semi-structured interviews with restaurant owners, workers and members of the Lebanese diaspora to critically examine the connections between diasporic identity and Lebanese food in London. The analysis revealed that Lebanese migrants living in London are highly affected and influenced by their homeland and its traditions. Analysis also revealed how the Lebanese hospitality industry has grown and adapted, becoming embedded, hybridized and contested by members of the Lebanese diaspora. We argue that this contestation revolves around a mobile sense of place and belonging.