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From the warm Mediterranean coast to the snow
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For the Lebanese-food novice who has never tried mezzes (Lebanese hors d’oeuvres) before, mouth-watering delight awaits.Hot pita bread and a selection of mezzes – hummus (pureed garbanzo bean dip), baba ghanoush (purée of eggplant), falafel with tahini sauce, tabouleh (parsley and cracked wheat salad), grape leaves, lebneh (yogurt dip with garlic) – are just a colorful, savory beginning.
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Traditional Lebanese meals are a multi-course affair. Lamb and chicken shawarma (meat which has been roasted slowly and then thinly sliced) and kafta meshwi (ground lamb seasoned with parsley, onions, herbs, and spices) are typical entrées, accompanied by platters of fresh fruit, bowls of roasted nuts, and a tray of bakhlawa (a filo dough pastry with layers of syrup and ground pistachio) or other Lebanese sweets for dessert.
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A full, multi-course Lebanese meal can be pricey, but it’s worth it to splurge at least once. In Beirut, the Achrafiyeh area is a good bet for fashionable restaurants serving delicious Lebanese or international cuisine. Try Abdul Wahad for an amazing, if pricey, Lebanese meal. A mid-range option is Istanbuli in Hamra (US$8 to US$20). If you have a smaller appetite, head for a takeaway, delivery, or dine-in snackshop selling shawarma or falafel sandwiches, yogurts, and salads(US$2 to US$5).
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Chicken or beef shawarma sandwiches are served rolled up with french fries in pita bread. Falafel is also served in pita bread with a yogurt sauce and sometimes lettuce and tomato. Both the traditional Lebanese meal and the snackshop variety can be found all over Lebanon, with some regional differences and flair.
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Lebanon’s café scene rivals that of any major European city. You can spend a leisurely afternoon reading, people-watching, or enjoying the fresh air at countless sidewalk cafes in cities around the country. Be sure to sample the delicious fresh-squeezed juices or a cup of the strong traditional Lebanese coffee.In the evenings, the cafés in the recently restored Central District
(“Solidère”) region of Beirut are buzzing with activity,with families and children relaxing, socializing, and enjoying coffee,sweets, and ice cream. It is customary to tip 10-15 percent in addition to any service charge incorporated in the bill.
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