The Meaning of Nuba

As I mentioned the other day, I’ve got Nuba on Seymour in the pipe for this week’s WE. We did the photoshoot two days ago and I’ve just finished writing my review of the Lebanese restaurant this morning. But only moments ago, Ernesto at Nuba sent me some info on the restaurant’s philosophy and history. Fascinating stuff, but since I’m hardly going to touch on any of it in my story, I thought it might be worth sharing here:

MEANING OF NUBA AND ITS CREATOR

The NUBA or Nawbah is a form of expression based on rhythm, it is a “musical and instrumental suite” created by one of the most fascinating figures in history named ZIRYAB.

Abu I-Hasan ‘Ali ibn Nafi, better known as ZIRYAB, was a poet, musician and singer, and one of the most famous gourmands at the Umayyad court in Cordoba, Spain. It is un-clear if ZIRYAB was Kurdish, Persian or African, but he became notable when he lived in Al Andalus, in the 9th century AD, in what today is Andalucia, Spain. During his lifetime, he was an unparalleled creator, inventor and arbiter of style and taste, who dictated fashions and arts. ZIRYAB designed new musical modes and methods, and constructed a harmonic theory, which linked music, singing and food with healing.

The creator of NUBA is responsible for the change of colors in fashion, and of menus in the seasons; he introduced standards of excellence in hairstyles, clothes, tableware, etiquette, perfumes, cosmetics and medicine, as well as setting new norms for elegant and noble manners in all aspects of society.

ZIRYAB the virtuoso artiste-gastronome introduced a number of exotic unknown recipes and rituals that transformed social customs as seen in the kitchen and in the way people eat, socialize and relax today.

HISTORY OF NUBA RESTAURANT

Healthy food has always been a part of Victor Bouzide´s family history. In 1893, his grandmother represented Lebanese Cuisine at the Chicago World Fair, when she was only 13 years old. After being married, she moved to Aguascalientes, Mexico, where Victor´s mother spent most of her early years.Growing up in Mexico, she picked up some of the spices that characterize the Food of Nuba Restaurant today.

On the thirties, Victor´s parents settled in Windsor, Ontario, where Victor was born. Victor started working from a very young age and before he opened Nuba he had already been a successful restaurant and club owner, having created the Pepe´s Pizza chain, the J. Michael Bottoms Jazz Club and La Mishwi, a Lebanese eatery that served Victor´s old family recipes.

La Mishwi was an immediate success and was praised by all the local newspapers in Windsor, attracting an interesting and diverse crowd. Jeramy Duckworth met Victor at Le Mishwi and they decided to work together in updating the recipes to the new food trends and organic culture. Four years ago, Victor Bouzide and Jeramy Duckworth decided to bring their food concept to the West Coast and joined forces to create NUBA restaurant in Vancouver.

OUR NUBA PHILOSOPHY

The NUBA philosophy is born with the premise of merging ancient Lebanese traditions with modern nutrition.

In the same innovative spirit that Ziryab used when he transformed the eating habits of his time, we are committed to proposing an option of health conscious whole foods to a growing segment of people that appreciates fast casual meals without sacrificing quality, taste and nourishment.

Victor Bouzide’s Grandmother’s authentic recipes have gone a long way since the Chicago World Fair in 1893. They have naturally achieved with time and travel what our food stands for: Healthy Lebanese Cuisine with Mediterranean and Latin Accents.

We are firm believers that our formula, consistent of love in the execution of innovative Lebanese hearty food, combined with an urban contemporary environment, modern eclectic sounds, and a fast, casual and friendly service will make NUBA a unique and pleasing experience that will have our customers coming back for more.