Only in Lebanon: Part II

A while back, I published an entry about my pet peeves in Lebanon. I think it's only fair that I present the other side to the coin, the stuff I love about this country. Naturally, as a gourmet, I'll start with la nourriture:
  • The French culinary influence which grants us decadent gateaux, les baguettes, and des bons fromages
  • The ubiquity of an international range of restaurants serving top-notch nosh: Peninsula, Julia's, Braai, Mandaloun, Cocteau, and Mondo are a few of my favorites
  • The popularity of happy hour, and thus, the certain presence of a good cocktail
  • Open-air cafes, restaurants, lounges, and pubs: think Zaituna Bay and Uruguay Street
  • Cheap street grub when times call for it: manakish, falafel, shawerma, taouk, basterma, and kafta wraps
  • Elastic Arabic ice cream
  • Sweetened ketchup
  • Pickled anything: cucumbers, carrots, horseradish, stuffed eggplants
  • Starbuck's double chocolate muffin, grace à Le Meilleur caterers
  • The availability of anything and everything in the local supermarket, from specialty French yogurts to good old Tex-Mex taco shells
  • Al Rifai's mixed nuts, especially the seasoned and coated peanuts krikri
  • High standards of hospitality in restaurants and hotels
  • Beautiful, temperate weather, even in wintertime
  • The Mediterranean sea that borders the entire western length of the country
  • The Manara and Biel boardwalks
  • The proximity of the mountains to Beirut and the seaboard
  • Seaside cities, particularly Byblos and Jounieh
  • Quaint streets in the Achrafieh area that tuck away gems of restaurants
  • The fabulous views of the sea from nearly any elevation
  • Easy accessibility to ancient ruins and relics (you can get up close and personal, and no one will slap your hand if you reach out to touch)
  • The strength and influence of faith still present in everyday society
  • The beautiful churches and monasteries that date from centuries ago
  • The rich history of literature, art, and music
  • Dozens of good wineries, several of whose wines are exported for sale abroad
  • Abundance of fresh mountain water
  • Uniform price of gasoline at all fueling stations
  • Gas station attendants who fuel up your car as you remain seated behind the wheel
  • Tri-lingual literacy (Arabic, English, and French) of most of those formally educated
  • People's smart-chic sense of fashion and self-care
  • The freedom to dress however you like (casually, modestly, glamorously, you name it) and not be the laughingstock of town
  • Affordable hair care and salon services (e.g., hair styling, manicures, pedicures, etc.)
  • The humanness: you'll always find someone willing to help, whether your car breaks down or you need directions


Chime in!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lebanon's Retail Landscape In Need of Customer Service Overhaul

Image
Last weekend, I found myself visiting two different retailers with which I’d previously been unfamiliar. We received housewarming gifts that I wished to exchange for something of more utility, and after being repeatedly reassured that swapping would be effortless, I embarked on said mission. The first retailer has two branches: one in Jdeideh, north of Beirut, and another in Ballouneh, in the Ajaltoun district. The gift was purchased in Ballouneh, and I was going to attempt the exchange in Jdeideh, which is considerably closer to our home. I entered the shop and presented the item – a half dozen set of tumblers – to the two ladies seated behind the cashier desk. Almost instantly I was greeted with, “that’s an old item.” “Excuse me? This was purchased 24 hours ago from your other location,” I retorted. As though we were duking it out on a tennis court, the cashier swiftly shot back that she had to check whether they even carried this item in Jdeideh, because if they did not, she wou
Read more

Tantalizing Treats from the Coast to the Mountains

Image
For many of us, the undisputed beauty of Lebanon lies in the quality of food and drink available to denizens. If we Lebanese are blessed with one thing, it’s a highly discerning palate and a deep-seated appreciation for food, no matter the cuisine or category. Here are a few of my newfound favorites bejeweling the Lebanese frontier, from the coast to the mountains! Gilbert’s Burger Bites Having grown up in California, I know a good burger when I see (and sink my canines into) one. The Lebanese have always had a love affair with burgers, but if you grew up in the 90s, a burger around here ubiquitously meant a thin kafta-like patty smothered with coleslaw and fries, tucked inside a sesame seed bun large enough to bury a baseball. While nostalgia-inducing, that specimen belongs in our past. Since moving to Lebanon in 2011, I’ve enjoyed a number of decent burgers. But the crowning jewel is without doubt Gilbert’s Burger Bites. I’m not sure why it’s dubbed “Bites,” because their burgers are
Read more

What’s New In & Around Beirut

Image
In light of the multiple financial and economic crises that continue to grip Lebanon, it always fascinates me when I see new places crop up, or living spaces being treated to a facelift. Revival in Lebanon is at the core of our fabric. Our entrepreneurial culture perpetually outweighs the lesser than ideal circumstances that beleaguer us. All this to say, it’s a heartwarming feeling when you see others around you continue to invest and not relinquish hope in this country. Here’s the latest example of that! Xpark Perched on high in the hills of Mar Roukoz, not far from Waves waterpark, Xpark is Lebanon’s first indoor jump park spread across an impressive 3,300 square meters. Find different areas to suit every age and expert level: (1) X Mini for ages up to 6 to explore trampoline style jumping, (2) Freestyle, (3) Xpertramps for elevated performance enthusiasts, (4) XDunk for bouncing and shooting hoops, (5) soft-play for toddlers, (6) edutainment zone catering to ages 4-12, and more. Up
Read more