A Kaa'K Breakfast

Kaa'k is probably the most difficult Lebanese food to describe.

It is this round piece of dough that is hallow in the middle. It is baked with its own handle reminding me of a woman's purse and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Typically, they are sold on bikes on the streets - you call the biker, give him a quarter and you have your Kaa'ké (singular of Kaa'k if you are wondering).

Dad prefers to buy them from a fancy bakery costing him close to 65 cents a Kaa'ké.

Here's a Kaa'ké.

You can eat it as is. 

But dad has learned how to turn it into a tastier and more substantial breakfast.

The Kaa'ké is opened up. It is spread with a yellow creamy cheese.

After he spreads the cheese, he sprinkles it with Zaa'tar.

Then you end up with this cheese zaa'tar sandwich that is crunchy from the outside and gooey from the inside.

It is a very tasty fun breakfast; too bad those are only good fresh, otherwise I would have packed my bag.

Thank you dad.

P.S. - They are also a favourite of cats!

Roaming and Eating in Lebanon

Today's roaming covered shore and mountain towns, lots of food and many many cousins. It was a good day.

Early lunch/brunch at Roadster Diner Hamra Street starting with a vanilla milk shake (my only white and creamy food today).

Roadster is a diner chain that focuses on quality - they are ISO certified and approved by Lebanese Association for Food Safety (yay - stomach safe).

The other fun part about Roadster Diner is people watching, in and out.

While I felt a bit old given the crowd, things changed when an older priest showed up - making me feel both young and blessed.

Okay, back to the food. The Swiss Mushroom burger was very good. Exceptional quality beef, melted cheese sauce and great bun.

Pricy for sure compared to Canada (close to $15). I should check out the MacDonalds here to see how much they are.

Next stop was Second Cup where I felt so Canadian (the Canadian flag is part of their Beirut signage).

I also felt really old given this location is next to both a high school and a university.

Few hours later, a gathering of all at Le Gargotier with lots of French Fries and wine. 

My escalope cordon bleu was filling, but that did not stop my cousin from passing half her chicken platter over.

Much later, two of us needed a digesting drink.

A quick walk found us at Calvados, a cosy neighbourhood pub.

Vodka Seven Up was the perfect digestive and the perfect ending for a great day.

Thank you cousins for all the driving around and the food.

Parents' Remedy for Upset Stomachs

When I had a torturous night with an upset stomach, Dr. Dad and Nurse Mom took over.

First remedy goes back to Dr. Grandfather - Arak (Lebanese Alcoholic Drink).

Sipping Arak, it seems, soothes the stomach. I think it is more that its high alcoholic content kills any bad bacteria.

Then one goes on a diet of yogurt to rebuild good bacteria. 

The combination of Labneh (thickened yogurt) and grilled pita (light on the stomach) is a very tasty remedy.

The (home made) yogurt treatment continued but this time it was mixed with rice cooked with vermicelli.

This combination is one of my favourites and is worth getting sick for it.

As the stomach regains its strength, protein is introduced in the form of grilled chicken spiced with cinnamon and all spice.

Finally, natural vitamins are injected in the body with a fresh fruit fruit salad.

Perfect remedy Dr. Dad and Nurse Mom.

4Cats

4Cats is a Lebanese band of four sexy singers. 

Except that the women in the band keep on changing (on purpose) but the look and music style remains the same.

Today's story though is not about those 4 Cats, but another 4 Cats who are way cuter, sweeter, lovable and interesting.

Those 4 Cats are Gato, Keera, Miko and Sisyphus.

All of them are rescues off the streets of Beirut and living happily in a lovely home with generous loving humans.

I will let those 4 Cats introduce themselves.

"Ola, my name is Gato (how boring).

I am the rooster among the ladies; they all love my tuxedo and my thick squirrel tail.

If you were not going to make me a blog star, I would have not even let you touch me. 

So I indulged you with my tummy, now I have to go back to keep an eye on the ladies."

"geiá sou, I am the wise Sisyphus.

I have just arrived into this land of lovely Phoenicians, but the other three felines are being very nasty to me.

But my royal eyes and beautiful face got me a wing of the palace all to myself.

I am an observer, thinker and lover. That is why I am questioning why I was called after a King when I am really a Queen.

Well, I will have to think more on that. At least I am not expected to roll boulders up hills in this kingdom."

"Hello, I am Keera.

I am sensitive, beautiful, shy but adore attention at the same time.

Some humans think I have issues. I won't be surprised if they call me issues behind my back.

I see food, please excuse me."

"Kon'nichiwa, Mika here.

I am the queen of the kingdom even though many think I am a go lucky fat cat.

I am not afraid of strangers. I also cannot leave humans laps go to waste.

Anytime a lap is empty, I am on it. Even better, with many laps in the room, I can move from one to another.

I am adorable, am I not??."

Well, those are very lucky kitties to be rescued off the streets of Beirut and given such luxury lives.

But there are still many roaming the streets. To adopt or foster some of them, check out BETA (Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) at www.betalebanon.org

Meanwhile, indulge in this handmade intricate needle work by Egyptian women - a treasure I think.

 

Frida Paints Beirut

Under the dusk sky of Beirut, on the patio of the first floor of a residential building was dinner at Frida - a Lebanese-Mexican fusion restaurant with a very inventive fusion menu.

Nachos replaced by a selection of Markouk bread - with zaatar, fennel and raisins, fried; with a spicy olives cheddar 'dip'.

The margaritas were there, but also the Chicha with its own attendant making sure it is always going.

Frida serves regular humus and Frida Humus which is a spiced up humus where the cumin and red peppers turned it into a beautiful sunset colour.

Along with it was Kibbeh Mhammara with walnut.

Simply a kibbeh cup baked and stuffed with Mhammara (a mixture of hot spiced up meat); covered with a huge walnut. This was my favourite dinner item.

And those were the 'traditional' fusion inventions.

On a more creative side were the lettuce wraps.

Those were simply spiced cooked Freekeh wrapped in lettuce and steamed. The spicing of the freekeh was light, the combination delicious.

The Avocado and Purslane salad looked beautiful. 

Purslane is a shrub with edible leaves, covered with avocado, pomegranate, cucumber, pine nuts and a simple lemon juice and olive oil dressing.

But whether by design or fate, we left the best for last.

Lawziyeh Bil Ashta was the white and creamy dessert option that, given the white and creamy passion, won over the chocolate cooked in clay option.

Lawz means almonds. Ashta is the famous Lebanese cream that my regular readers would have seen over and over.

The combo was an almond paste covering the Ashta, with Lebanese sugar syrup and cherry jams.

Simply amazing....

Thank you my dearest CS Partner in Crime.

 Frida

Ashrafieh

Lebanon

www.fridacuisine.com

Simple Lentil Soup

My mother and I went into the kitchen together today.

My mom cooked, I watched and took pictures. I like this kind of vacation.

But rather than just sharing the pictures, I will also share the recipe for a simple lentil soup.

Start with one cup of red split lentils. Rinse them well.

Mother's kitchen gadgets include this lentil colander (it is kind of practical and I wonder why it may not work for rice as well? I should ask before I leave).

Add the lentils to a pot, along with half cup of rice (Egyptian or Italian), cover with water and an onion.

Bring to a boil and then let simmer until all is cooked.

When almost cooked, add a quarter cup olive oil, let is simmer a bit more and it is ready to serve.

Two things to serve with this soup.

First, lemon juice; even though this lemon, picked up a day or two earlier off a tree close by, is too juicy and large to waste as a juicing lemon.

The other thing you eat with this soup is grilled pita bread.

You can eat it or crunch it into it. Either way, the end result is a really tasty, healthy simple lunch.

Give it a try.