Scaling Without Losing Soul: How to Grow While Staying True to Your Roots

When I first opened The Sheik restaurant in West Bloomfield, Michigan, I had one simple goal: to bring the flavors and hospitality of my Lebanese heritage to the local community. It wasn’t about building an empire or chasing headlines—it was about food, family, and culture. Over time, though, opportunities came to grow. I moved into […]

The Role of Food in Culture and Business: A Lebanese-American Perspective

Growing up in Lebanon, food was never just something we ate—it was how we connected. It was how we showed love, celebrated, mourned, and gathered. Our meals were big, filled with flavor, and always shared. Every dish had a story, every recipe was passed down, and every meal was an opportunity to bring people together. […]

How Food and Culture Shape Entrepreneurship: A Lebanese-American Perspective

When I think about why I became an entrepreneur, it always comes back to two things: food and culture. Growing up in Lebanon, food was more than just something we ate—it was how we celebrated, connected, and showed love. That deep cultural connection to food stayed with me, even as life took me from Lebanon […]

The Role of Family in Business: Balancing Ambition and Personal Life

When I look back on my journey—from growing up in Lebanon to building a life and business in the United States—I can honestly say that nothing has been more foundational than family. Family is where I learned the value of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance. It gave me the motivation to keep going when things […]