Ten Questions with Ziad Halub
1. What was your motivation to start Supper Club?
Of all the passions I have in life, food and beauty rituals (by extension skincare) are amongst the top in my list. The common thread is a love for beautiful ingredients, sourcing and the methods of the process- to create something wonderful that reflects the sum of its parts. Supper Club was organically born from this.
2. Describe your morning routine?
The first thing I do is check my emails in bed. It’s a bad habit but I want to put two feet on the ground knowing that I don’t have a full inbox. Once up, I have my curcumin supplements with a tall glass of room temp water infused with a propolis tincture. I brush my teeth and then wash my face with raw Italian chestnut honey. I’m then ready to have breakfast or do some work – but I need this ritual first.
3. How do you take your coffee?
I’m a tea guy. Coffee is a double espresso with a splash of oat milk (not a macchiato, but I’ll take a macchiato) – usually after dinner or heavy lunch.
4. What are your current skincare must-haves?
Sabzi, of course – it saved my skin. African Botanicals Oxygenating Baobab Cleanser is divine. Orris soap for the shower. Any kind of hydrolat (rosewater, orange blossom or peppermint).
5. Favourite City in the world?
Keith Floyd said, to know a country, you must eat a country. Brisket Noodle Soup in Hong Kong. Cha Ca in Hanoi, Lubina a la Sal in Andalusia. Pastilla in Marrakech. Masgoof in Basra. Seafood in Sydney. I could keep going - How could I possibly pick a favourite?
6. You've travelled a lot, what 3 items do you consider to be travel essentials?
Headphones – sunglasses – a friend who lives/knows the city well.
7. Any travel hacks to share?
Go without expectation. Reservations are a thing. Don’t make too many plans – sometimes spending half the day in a beautiful café is needed so don’t feel bad for it.
8. What's your desert island product. You can only have 1?
Sabzi, of course.
9. One dish you can't live without?
Anything brothy.
10. How do you define beauty?
Health. Something that is beautiful, in my eyes, is always something that is healthy. Healthy produce makes better produce. People who are healthy in mind, spirit and body are always beautiful people to be around. Today in society the definition of what healthy means is far removed from the reality – health doesn’t have to mean fitness obsessives and green juices. It means doing what’s good for one’s body and staying away from things that don’t bring happiness. For skin I think it means health too; not overprocessing skin with harsh active ingredients that strip and sensitise. Trusting your skin to do its job. Understanding that some skin is more textured, or thinner, or thicker, or hairier, or oilier and being okay with it – that doesn’t make it bad skin.