Little Beirut Away From Lebanon
By: Antonia Wagura, Arab America contributing writer
Lebanese cuisine is a perfectly varied mix of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and French cuisines with the Mediterranean being the most prominent one. Just picturing your favorite Lebanese dish makes you smell the aroma, taste the flavor, and sense the texture. Aren’t you mouthwatering yet?
Lebanese culture, through food, is widely spreading around the world. Sharing love, joy, experience, and mostly their palatable delicacies. One thing about Arabs (Lebanese) is that they are hospitable and generous, and they create little Beirut away from Lebanon in every part of the world. Wherever you are you can feel the spirit of Lebanon.
In the same manner, Nairobi has experienced and still experiences the love and joy shared by Lebanese through their delectable, mouthwatering dishes. This article touches on a few of the many Lebanese restaurants found in the heart of Nairobi.
The Cedar
The first on the list is The Cedar, The Cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon, and it represents the Lebanese drive and passion to impress, excel and endure. The restaurant pride itself on giving its customers a true taste of the Lebanese spirit. They pride themselves in their flavorsome Lebanese cuisine including the traditional Mezze. It approximately consists of 24 divine, toothsome, and tempting dishes. The vast collection is to ensure even the pickiest of eaters have options.
Barge Zeytoon
From the cultural modern Lebanese style of decor to its blissful and enjoyable food- Zeytoon has beauty, charm, and culture reflective of Lebanon. Some of the ambrosial dishes you will come across include but are not limited to Shiish Touk, shish kebab, kefta kebab, and shawarma It is no more than a form of love to share one’s culture through food, and not only is it food, its luscious food.
Mezze on the Deck
Just from the name, you can tell that the restaurant is a Lebanese-filling cuisine in the heart of Nairobi. This restaurant gives off an “eating is social” attitude. More often than not, food brings people of different people together. More so, when it comes to diverse cultures integrating and you add food to the equation, the environment becomes warmer and more relaxed. The Mezze style culture is that of relaxed food, where people get together and enjoy a variety of dishes.
The Phoenician
Though integrated with Japanese cuisine, the Phoenician offers delectable Lebanese cuisine that brings the spirit of Lebanon. The restaurant captures the essence of the social culture, and cultural integration, and to make it better food is at the center of it all. One of the appetizing dishes offered is the famous Mezze, which is served at the beginning of their sumptuous courses.
The Aldar
Well even though it’s all about food, Aldar gives an authentic Middle Eastern theme that places you in an Arab world. So not only does it bring to us the spirit of Lebanon through food but also space. They offer a variety of dishes which include Labneh with garlic, hummus Beiruti, Baba Ghannouj, moutabal, mouhamara, Falafel, Oriental Mussakka, Sambossek mix, fried kebab Halabi among many other lip-smacking dishes.
Hob House
Food is love made visible. Hob House warms the heart of many, and the food is served in family style so that everyone at the table gets to share the food. It shows and brings out the hospitable nature of Arabs. Sharing experiences and love for friends and family around the table is the ultimate way to enjoy food.
Little Beirut
Tasty food and great vibes as people say win over people’s hearts. Little Beirut offers Lebanese cuisine with a colorful selection. Options are endless and the flavors are divine.
A Little Beirut Away From Lebanon
There are many more Lebanese and Arabian restaurants in Nairobi and around the world. As mentioned, Arabs show their generosity and hospitality by offering food. So by establishing restaurants all around the world, they are spreading love and experiences through food culture.
In addition, it’s also common to share one big dish of food instead of eating off individual plates in Lebanon. More so, food in Lebanon is served Mezze style wherein a group of 4 to 6 small plate dishes are served in a course. The dishes in each Mezze complement each other and are part of a pattern.
Lebanon has a long and rich legacy of cultural impact around the world. If it interests you, check out more about Lebanese restaurants and food culture in our blog.
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