Origin Stories: ‘Grillades À La Maison’ with Chef Teya Mikhael  

We are always looking for a reason to celebrate. On top of the signature ‘moves’ at our restaurants – each season brings a new roster of creative events to celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions that power our restaurant concepts. From festive brunches with flowing wine to intimate club nights and dazzling displays of culinary theatrics, we thrive off the energy and enthusiasm from these community events.

Teya Mikhael, the resident head chef at Maison Libanaise, draws inspiration from the cultural and culinary diversity of Lebanon to bring to life the vibrant flavours of her hometown. Every meal at the SoHo canteen centres around family-style sharing, with platters of tangy dips, hearth-baked pita and other irresistible small bites bringing to the forefront the Lebanese tradition of weekends spent dining on mezze with family and friends, washed down with plentiful wine. Nowhere is that vibrant spirit more apparent than in ‘Grillades À La Maison’, a Sunday afternoon affair of authentic Lebanese dishes and flowing wine, spotlighting barbecued meats and seafood. We asked Chef Teya to share more about what diners can expect.  

Tell us about the inspiration behind ‘Grillades À La Maison’.  

‘Grillades À La Maison’ channels the spirit of a typical Sunday in Lebanon. It’s often a day where the whole family gathers together for a barbecue lunch. It’s almost sacred, not to be skipped. Big tables are set and a huge amount of food is served. I rarely remember a Sunday without a family barbecue back home.  

Walk us through a typical Sunday barbecue.   

It would go as follows: Waiting for everyone to arrive, serving chilled drinks, alcohol and some nibbles. Someone will definitely be late and we never start a meal if someone is not there yet. This is when the topics that will be discussed throughout the day are usually brought up, while the kids are jumping around and the mothers are helping set the table while chatting.  

We always start off with the mezzes, warming up for the more substantial part of the dinner, which is the barbecued meat and seafood. One of the mothers is always going back and forth to whoever is barbecuing just to make sure they are well fed while they grill the meat! The last part is my favourite: After this big meal when the family is sitting around the table and everyone is still trying to figure out how they could eat so much food and feel this full, the mashawi hits the table. Then, the coffee and dessert is being served and moms and children are collecting the dirty plates without getting up from their chairs. It feels good to be surrounded by the people you love and just be happy in the moment. 

What can guests expect, as you bring this tradition to Hong Kong?   

A relaxed Sunday lunch, with a good mezze spread, lots of wine and delicious meat and seafood on the grill. A time to have good conversation and connect with friends and family!   

Are there any surprises or highlights that guests can look forward to? 

We do serve a traditional Lebanese beverage on arrival, while people are waiting for their tables or while waiting for the food. We also end the meal with a big fruit and dessert set-up for people to help themselves and continue to enjoy their conversations.   

What makes this weekend feast stand out from other offerings in Hong Kong? 

This event is a translation of an exact Sunday in Beirut. Even with the small details, like the start of the lunch, the mezze spread, the grills, the dessert display and the coffee being served to order – everything is thoughtfully planned out to share this special tradition with Hong Kong diners.  

What do you hope guests will take away from the event?   

Just enjoying the Lebanese style of lunch, where everything and everyone is equally important. From food, wine, arak and dessert, to enjoying the company of the people you are dining with, the warm hospitality and seamless service.   

What is your favourite part of the experience?   

Feeling like I am back home again and being able to share this feeling with all of our guests and the team.  

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Grillades À La Maison is available on the second Sunday of every month at 12pm. Book a table here for a feast of unlimited Lebanese dishes.

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