Post 9/365

Like most Mediterranean countries, much of what we eat is dictated by the seasons. Lebanese recipes are a rich mixture of a variety of ingredients that come from all the regions. It is known that each area has its special dishes that reflects the culture of the area.
Mezze, is an array of small dishes placed before the guests creating an array of colors, flavors, textures and aromas. This style of serving food brings people together over a table where they share dishes, ask for plates to be passed on. Discussions, jokes, and heated conversations fall in between “oh but you should try this.” It’s a reflection of the social pleasure that Lebanese get out of food.

Mezze is Lebanese culture served on a plate. It’s colourful, full of different texture and favours, simple, honest, basic, humble, and lively. It’s a mix of everything that our land has to offer.
My favourite part of taking friends visiting from abroad to a Lebanese restaurant is the spectacle of moving tables once we are done with eating so we can have dessert on a clean table, “Tawlet el hilo jehze”. I stand and say “people. It’s time to feast… Again. Let’s move to the fruits table. You know you don’t pay for that dessert table. It’s on the house” and I always get that look of bewilderment on their faces and I get asked how come? I just say “that’s just how it is. It’s the culture. Welcome to Lebanon.”
Because I believe that giving, entertaining, and our love for life is what makes us Lebanese, I ‪#‎livelovelebanon‬ and I will ‪#‎fighton‬
This picture was taken yesterday at Liza