Day 2:
We were up early to meet our guide Houssam in Ain Zhalta forest reserve. After a pleasant walk up the mountain we enjoyed panoramic view of the Bekaa valley.
We had lunch with a local family. Our host cooked a typical homely meal consisting of pea and carrot stew with vermicelli rice, lentil moudardara, yogurt and cucumber salad, goats' cheese in oil, pickled aubergines and more.
For dessert a simple fig jam with markouk a thin bread baked on a hot convex griddle.
On our way back we stopped in Beit Eddine an early 19th century palace built by the Emir Bechir II, and later took a stroll in the picturesque village of Deir El Kamar.
Back in Beirut we spent the evening in Al Falamanki Cafe. After a gin and tonic to ease the day's tiredness we ordered some specialities: Beetroot dip with spicy potatoes, kefta baked in tahini sauce.
Famalmanki is the hub of a shisha-smoking, tawle-playing young crowd. You cannot book a table and often you have to queue to get in.
We were up early to meet our guide Houssam in Ain Zhalta forest reserve. After a pleasant walk up the mountain we enjoyed panoramic view of the Bekaa valley.
The Forest
The Bekaa valley
We had lunch with a local family. Our host cooked a typical homely meal consisting of pea and carrot stew with vermicelli rice, lentil moudardara, yogurt and cucumber salad, goats' cheese in oil, pickled aubergines and more.
For dessert a simple fig jam with markouk a thin bread baked on a hot convex griddle.
Pea and carrot stew
Moudardara (lentil rice)
Baby Aubergines filled with walnuts, garlic and chilli and preserved in olive oil
On our way back we stopped in Beit Eddine an early 19th century palace built by the Emir Bechir II, and later took a stroll in the picturesque village of Deir El Kamar.
Back in Beirut we spent the evening in Al Falamanki Cafe. After a gin and tonic to ease the day's tiredness we ordered some specialities: Beetroot dip with spicy potatoes, kefta baked in tahini sauce.
Famalmanki is the hub of a shisha-smoking, tawle-playing young crowd. You cannot book a table and often you have to queue to get in.
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