Soubhieh

Soubhieh is when Lebanese get together in mid-morning over a cup of coffee to visit, smoke and sometimes gossip.

Coffee is never served on its own at a Soubhieh - there are always some sorts of sweets (at least a small biscuit).

Also, offering guests cigarettes is a ritual that remains popular over Soubhieh among the older generations - see the cigarette boxes on the Soubhieh table below.

One of the offerings are 'petit fours' - small selection of decadent cookies.

Popular Soubhieh items - with a mix of western (jam and chocolate filling) and oriental (dates filling) items.

 

Coffee is served depending on the guests' tastes - thick or thin, with or without sugar, etc.

Excellent dates cookies with rosewater and marble cake - a cake my mom and aunts been making since I was a child.

Towards the end of the Soubhieh and after coffee drinking and smoking is exhausted, a final serving of chocolates and sugar covered almonds to wrap up the morning.

But wait, there is more...

Maybe we should start this ritual during office hours when I am back home, eh?