We love stories because they teach us, because they entertain and inspire us. We love stories because they shape us so we are no longer the same after each story. Through stories, we grow, live endless adventures and lives, and develop a high human sense, expanding our hearts to the world. We love all this and more in stories, especially when they reach us through the storyteller's voice—a storyteller resembling a magician who pulls rabbits out of his hat to amaze children, except that the storyteller's tales flutter from under his cloak's wings, and its heroes jump out from beneath his tarboosh, as he distributes sweets to joyful eyes full of wonder and delight to increase their happiness, with an automatic movement like his fingers passing through the beads of his amber rosary. Here, we are talking about the storyteller, the founder of the "Tripoli Kitchen" project, Ahmed Kabbara.

Storyteller Ahmed Kabbara was born in Lebanese Tripoli, from where he moved to work among 5 countries, visiting more than 12 countries before settling in Canada for specialization and project management work. During his long and early journeys, he carried with him his Lebanese roots, and in his bag, the Tripoli dialect, its kitchen, riddles, and tales, without being distracted by the Canadian diaspora or ending the intimate relationship that remained dormant in his heart at his birthplace; this diaspora only increased its intimacy, strength, and authenticity.

His story began with the aromas and flavors of the Tripoli kitchen; he created a page that surpassed its counterparts in record time, taking on the mission of teaching non-professionals, expatriates, and non-Lebanese the essence of Lebanese food in the easiest way, using YouTube videos, aiming to spread Tripoli culture and heritage worldwide. Perhaps the most notable event for this kitchen was the "Great Tripoli Kitchen Challenge," which brought the storyteller from Canada to his birthplace for a warm visit to supervise and judge the competition, which ultimately aimed to feed 100 orphans in a grand feast. It was a wonderful opportunity to challenge the "Little Chef" among more than 70 enthusiastic children in a competitive, educational, and entertaining manner.

This is his story, and this is his beginning with children, especially orphans. His tales have emerged in the form of videos since 2018, later consolidated by the COVID crisis that swept the world and forced people to stay home and engage in activities through virtual space. The storyteller took off his tarboosh and dusted off the travel dust, wore his cloak, held his rosary and cane, and began telling stories, some from heritage, some of his own creation, and others real contemporary success and inspiration stories.

The journey started through social media platforms, then solidified and moved from virtual reality to one of Ottawa's restaurants after his day of fasting, this happened last Ramadan (2021). He heads towards Taraweeh prayers wrapped in his traditional attire, prays, then distributes sweets, and sets off in a joyful procession to his corner in the restaurant, just as the storyteller was over a century ago, before televisions and radio broadcasts, before smart devices, when people relied more on their imaginations and memories, when people were wiser.

His tales took off via YouTube, making their way to the hearts of listeners, and in thirty episodes storyteller Kabbara told us, young and old, touching, funny and expressive stories, reviving eras long gone, of which only fragments remain for the current generation. Through this platform too, goodness called at the end of each story, for the orphan under his care or a needy family that had no Iftar after fasting.

The storyteller's repertoire moved again to fairs and markets, telling stories and presenting his riddles, inventing them to entertain adults before children, awarding prizes and spreading joy among expatriates, testing children's tales to elect the "Little Storyteller," a new competition and greater enjoyment for all participants. Then, his stories expanded to include everyone, with success stories of small traders and newcomers to free, pioneering, and diverse businesses under the hashtag #Success_Story on his Instagram account.

It is noticeable that storyteller Kabbara is interested in the art of storytelling in forms beyond the conventional narrative style; he does not stop at a certain limit but renews, innovates, and moves from tales "of old times" to contemporary success stories, from riddles and puzzles he invents to popular examples rooted in Eastern heritage, because “there is no false proverb”! He excels in presenting to us the story of blessed Ramadan among Muslims in the East and West of the world, conveying their rituals and customs, what remains and what has vanished, telling us about their favorite foods and their way of fasting and celebrating Eid, in short videos on Instagram full of enjoyment combined with great benefit, bringing together Eastern and Moroccan cultures, affirming the unity and harmony of noble feelings in his program "Tables Around the World."

Ahmed Kabbara (the storyteller) insists and affirms the spirit of the team supporting him, even though he works almost entirely from his Canadian diaspora; he owns a private studio where he personally supervises lighting and filming, acting as the producer, director, and performer at the same time to deliver his wonderful content with professionalism and high quality. He expresses his gratitude for having a team assisting him with some tasks, mentioning among them "Bara'a Al-Shughri," manager of his social media accounts and responsible for video editing, also "Horia Al-Siddiq," responsible for linguistic proofreading of his written content, which he later presents via his short videos on Instagram or his enjoyable content on YouTube or elsewhere, as his ideas and ambitions are limitless, whether as the founder of the "Tripoli Kitchen" page and group or as the storyteller.

The storyteller's journey is as good as Tripoli cooking—fragrant, inspiring, serious, and entertaining.

The journey continues, and the place is delightful, and as the storyteller says, ladies and gentlemen: Speech is not pleasant except by mentioning the best of creation, peace be upon him.