In the French tradition, both take their fundamental flavors from stock.

"The French tradition of critical thinking influenced and taught me a lot," he said.

Restaurants were the means by which these two could be brought together - and the French tradition of dining out was born.

Though the food is still tied to French tradition, the menu has been trimmed.

Yet there are plenty of links with French culinary tradition.

The experience, he said, awakened his palate to the French tradition.

This was followed by purchases of paintings and sculpture in the French tradition.

The French tradition was to study nature and then reinvent it in an idealized form.

Mahmoud, for instance, had been educated as a lawyer in the French tradition.

"This decision, however, is a prohibition and didn't suit the libertarian nature of the French tradition."