A conversation with Emilie and Lilian Rihani
“Bread is our blessing, it’s what brought us all together.”
I have this quote scribbled in my notebook from last May, when I had first sat down with Lilian Rihani over a Zoom call to kick off our collaboration. We were planning to shape new words for the website of Three By Eva - the culinary experience that Lilian co-founded back in 2020 alongside sister Emilie and mother Eva Halasa in a residential quarter of Dubai.
(L to R) Emilie Rihani, Eva Halasa and Lilian Rihani
Lilian’s pure and grounded energy burst from my screen like sunshine through a window, and I couldn’t stop taking notes as she shared their entrepreneurial story - one that is closely intertwined with their incredible personal story and Jordanian roots.
It all began with Emilie’s sourdough. During the pandemic, having just returned from a sabbatical in Australia, she would bake fragrant loaves for friends and family. Word of her unforgettable bread got round so quickly that when they decided to soft launch Three By Eva, the queues on opening day went round the block. Soon, Louis Vuitton’s City Guide team was knocking on their door - and not only.
While it has burst onto the scene with resounding success, Three By Eva is much more than just an eatery feted by the media. It is the true embodiment of Lilian’s creative energy, Emilie’s infectious smile, and Eva’s radiance rooted in wisdom. It honours family, ancestors, honesty and simplicity, kneading these into soul-satisfying food that is cooked with the intention of being shared and loved.
They’re now preparing to launch not just their new website (which I can’t wait to share with you), but also The Masterclass Edition and Keanu’s sourdough pizza club. In anticipation of all that is to come, I sat down and asked Emilie and Lilian ten questions drawn from the Proust Questionnaire - a questionnaire that originated from a parlour game popularised by French essayist Marcel Proust back in the 1900s, and which was designed to reveal the player’s true nature.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Emilie (E): Perfect happiness is peace of mind and composure.
Lilian (L): If I were to paint a picture of this, I'd say, “Just before sunrise in between the mountains, sitting through a cold breeze waiting for the sun to come out, sipping on a black cup of hot coffee with someone I love unconditionally and feel safe enough to indulge in this moment without the fear of what might come next.” My idea of happiness has shifted a lot in the past year or so; I feel content with much less and appreciate the little unspoken things in life. Peace of mind is definitely a source of my happiness these days.
What is your current state of mind?
E: While running a busy establishment and three other projects in the making? I’m not gonna lie, pretty “smiling on the outside, stressed out of my mind on the inside”.
L: Rhythmic. Constantly flowing.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, who or what would she/he/it be and why?
E: A CCTV camera - it’s like watching the world while being on a silent retreat and not taking anything personal.
L: As someone who feels like a very old soul, I'd really like this life to be my last and I mean that in the most positive and endearing way. Nothing morbid, I promise. But if you insist, maybe bring me back as a Portuguese artist named Maximilian, let it be a 1,000 years ago where I would be crafting manuscripts, changing religious texts and historical chronicles. On some days, I just wanna come back as a donut making someone's day, and that would suffice.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
E: Me turning 30 this year - I really loved my 20s.
L: Born in the wrong era, again.
What is your greatest regret?
E: Not having a skin routine earlier in my life.
L: It might sound cliché, but I really have none. Every experience brought me closer to who I really am today, and I never felt more self-love and worth than I do now. But if I had a goldfish memory, I'd say maybe not eating more baba au rums in Napoli.
What is your most treasured possession?
E: The people I love around me and who love me back. Oh, and my smile.
L: Growing up, I used to play with the boys in the street collecting and winning very unique marbles that no longer exist - I've had this box of marbles for over 25 years now. It's like a mini box of memories that I would like to hold onto and keep passing on.
Emilie Rihani
What is the quality you most like in a man?
E: Generosity.
L: Chivalry. It's really died in this time and age.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
E: Kindness.
L: Confidence. Nothing radiates more power and beauty than a woman confident in herself.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
E: Three by Eva - our little family baby.
L: There are a few I'm proud of, but the one that stands out most is opening Three by Eva Halasa to continue the legacy of Mom and her achievements. It's a family café-restaurant owned by Eva, myself and my sister Emilie. We are now expanding into a cooking school and a couple of new concepts that I'm shaping up at the moment. It's been the most challenging but most rewarding to work with family and to share the same goal, and to hopefully write about everything it took to get us where we are now. I'm most proud of it because of the love we've been very blessed to receive from people knowing that you can never buy someone's love; so for that, I'm grateful.
What is your motto?
E: There’s not a single day that’s worth ending on a bad note! Smile.
L: The only constant is change and with that we must keep flowing.