Reminder: Al Abdalla, Ahmad being the original.

Remember the Aladballa vs Al7ayalla debacle? (here). Well, me in my little ignorance, I did not know that basically, the original was Ahmad Alabdallah. So yes, just like the Hallab dynasty (with the humongous ad that was right bang at the entrance of Tripoli about the Hallab dynasty (famous for their sweets) which shows Abdulrahman being on top of Rifaat (as both has competing shops) with the line (in Arabic) "the age of the tree is from its stem, not the branches". So apparently if we go back in the Alabdallah family tree, seems Ahmad was on top of everyone else. So the ad simply emphasizes it (in three layers mind you) "the original is known". Apparently all this continues in store with the branding going to the food and the windows and all. So it seems this is indeed a very integrated campaign (here). So there, somewhere in the grilled chicken dynasties, now we know who started it.

Dunkin', the World Cup, and small Hallab story

As reported by Mohamad Haidar (here) Dunkin' has a new beverage cup for the World Cup. As he suggested, we ought to look closely because not all countries are represented. How come? Well, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq are all missing, because their flags contain the word Allah, and since the cup is disposable, the name might end up in the trash. A very sensitive and sensible move. But as always with me, a certain hidden story related to the Lebanese story.

Long long time ago when Abdul Rahman Hallab was executing its branding, eventually the name (which now mostly trades under Hallab 1881) made it to the napkins of the store. Obviously one cannot anticipate all feedbacks, and since "rahman" (merciful) is among God's 99 names in Islam, and this created a scandal with the sheikhs who took the whole thing to heart and very badly advocating for people to boycott the shop. Obviously peace meetings did happen and eventually, at the time, it was agreed that only "Hallab" would figure on the napkins in Arabic and "Abdul Rahman Hallab" in Latin.

Obviously, on many of their brandings right now Asr el 7ehlo (palace of the sweet) or Hallab 1881 to bypass the original problem. 

Hallab 1881, or how to sink even lower.

Hallab 1881 just did "something" for Independence Day (here). I was hesitating to post the link because it must come with a warning "I saw this on behalf of humanity so you don't have to". The ad, is even an insult to cliche! It is this bad. A hodge-podge of imagery over an insufferable copy which ends with one of the worst lines I have come across. I have no idea if this was done in-house or by an agency, but approving such atrocity is simply beyond the level of logic and good taste. Hallab has had a string of flops as of late (here and here as examples) and with every new outing they sink lower.

Hallab 1881, a horrendous father's day ad

Remember the atrocious Hallab 1881 ad for independence day? (here). Well, guess who is back with more of the same? Or rather less of the same, because honestly the bar is too low and they managed to pass beneath it. Copy? Soppy borderline horrible. Execution? Seriously, who even thought about this. And concept? Please, let us not insult intelligence here. If you want to see the ad at your own risk and peril go here. Whatever Hallab is doing, whether with or without ad agency, please let them stop. As the saying goes, "when in a hole stop digging", Hallab 1881 is armed with a shovel.

Hallab 1881, on that horrible Independence Day ad

One of my problems is that I react viscerally to ads. The new Hallab 1881 ad made me physically wince. Let's see - a grandson comes to his grandfather and asks "grandpa what happens to the world if there was no Lebanon?". Cue... The pseudo-patriotic diatribe about us inventing the alphabet, and our landmarks, and singers and doctors and inventors, and famous lunches. Maybe, just maybe (and this is a big ask) it sounded good on paper. In reality the ad borderline sucks. No, it fully sucks. It is badly acted, badly scripted, badly thought, badly executed, and - damn it, even as a diabetic - the last thing I want right now is baclava! Oh please spare me the "no matter what happens the country is the foundation of it all...". Stupidity called and wants its line back. Honest, I am usually much more reserved but this is totally beyond any logic. I saw the ad so that you don't have to, but if you insist please check here.

Hallab 1881 - Independence Day goes mercantile

File this under "I didn't get it but I am sure it means something and it comes from the right place" because honestly, I didn't get it. "We love you till the last piece" all this with the piece in question being baclava - a specialty that Hallab 1881 sells. I didn't get the cause to effect truth be told, and apart from the fact that as a diebetic now I want baclava and I can't have it, I am not sure how this leads me to Independence Day. Still, I guess this is a time where you take what you can advertising-wise.

Hallab 1881 does Mother's Day or helps you to.

Brilliant idea! Hallab 1881 is putting a recipe for people to do their own mother's day cake since people are under lockdown. As someone replied on instagram "now I want someone to bring me the material". Well, at least Hallab tried this year, much kudos for that.
In case you are interested here it is:

مكونات الجاتو

- ٤ بيضات (الغير مبرّد)

- كوب زبدة (٢٢٥ غ غير مبرّد)

- ٣/٤ كوب لبن عيران - ١/٢ كوب زيت - كوب و نصف سكّر

- ملعقتين صغار خلاصة الڤانيلا

- كوبين ونصف طحين منخول - ملعقتين ونصف صغار baking powder - ١/٢ ملعقة صغيرة من الملح

حمّو الفرن على ١٨٠ درجة مئوية

ضيفو الزبدة والسكر بوعاء واخلطوهن على مهل لدقيقتين

ضيفو البيض على مراحل

من بعدها العيران والڤانيلا

اخلطو المزيج على سرعة عالية لدقيقة وضيفو بقية المكونات: الطحين، الملح وال baking powder

كملو الخلط لدقيقتين لحتى كل المكونات تمتزج على الاخير

ضعو المزيج في صواني الجاتو على ورق زبدة مدهونين زبدة

خبزو المكونات لمدة ٣٥ ل ٤٠ دقيقة

مكونات الكريما

- كوبين كريما - كوب ونصف سكر ناعم

ضيفو المكونات بوعاء واخلطوهن جيداً لحتى الكريما تشتد وممكن اذا حبيتو اضافة لون لتصير الكريما زهرية

للحشوة، استعملو الفراولة والتوت البري

Hallab - Coronavirus edition

And on it goes! Illustration galore to tell clients of all measures taken for their safety and Hallab goes the extra mile in theirs. Well, these are incredibly paranoid times and so it is understandable how much effort everyone is exerting to prove their worth!