The Peoria Itoo Society’s two-day supper in celebration of Lebanese heritage is less than two weeks away.
The annual fundraiser is marking its 98th year. Joe Couri of the Itoo Society says it enables the community to use cuisine as a way to pass along its culture through generations.
“It’s just a big part of our tradition,” said Couri. “A lot of organizations these days are slowly dying or have died off, and this is a way that we feel socially we can stay together and work together.
“It just really instills the sense of pride in our club, in our tradition, in our heritage, for our younger members.”
The Itoo Society Supper features a menu of Lebanese culinary staples, including cabbage rolls, chicken and rice, green beans, baked kibbeh, salad and pita bread. The event also includes a bake sale highlighted by baklava.
Couri said immigrants from Lebanon have been an important part of the Peoria community for more than a century, with the Itoo Society dating back to 1914.
“Through the years, we have maintained a strong presence in town,” he said. “The Lebanese have had a rich tradition in in the business culture of Peoria. We’ve had Lebanese politicians, and a lot of lawyers and doctors in the community.”
He said Lebanon has faced difficulties in trying to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a major 2020 explosion in Beirut that ranks among one of the largest non-nuclear blasts ever recorded.
“That really caused a lot of damage, loss of life and loss of work, and then the banking system fell apart,” he said. “We just want people to understand that Lebanon has been through a really rough time in the last four or five years.”
Couri said the Itoo Society Supper experienced a bit of a drop-off in attendance during the pandemic, but participation is back on the rise.
“In the past, we’ve had as many as 2,400 people come, and last year I think we were close to 2,000. So, we’re hoping to build on it,” he said, noting the organization will soon be looking ahead to the century milestone.
“We're already starting to think, ‘Well, how can we make the 100th the biggest one ever?’ I think we have to get through this one first, but those discussions are going to be getting going pretty soon.”
The drive-thru pickup suppers will be distributed from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Itoo Hall at 4909 W. Farmington Road. Orders must be placed online by Oct. 31.
Dine-in buffet service and carry-out meals are scheduled from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 2, along with the bake sale.
“It’s still all you can eat for $20,” said Couri. “So it's a pretty good deal.”
