Sun-setting at St Elmo’s Seaside Brasserie

Tags

Beirut, Brasserie, Food, Lebanon, St Elmo's, St Elmo's Seaside Brasserie, Sunset at St Elmo's, TripAdvisor, Zaitunay Bay

After visiting The Brasserie when it first opened a couple of years ago, I was totally hooked up! After all, one thing to say about the folks behind this place: they are definitely filled with positive energy! There’s always something to keep you coming back. From their most unique version of Bloody Mary, the Bloody Mess, to their food, music, atmosphere, service and even the rose-water syrup during Ramadan! Sun-setting at St Elmo’s Brasserie easily became a tradition of ours.

It is noteworthy that after I once reviewed St Elmo’s on TripAdvisor here, I was invited to one of their vibrant Champagne Sunday Brunches, celebrating the launching of their new menu. They are definitely one of the very few locales here in Lebanon that know how to make use of the digital media to optimize their reach.

This time, however, we were visiting local designers’ boutiques that were spread around Beirut’s central district, when we decided to go grab a delicious bite while enjoying the fresh air and a relaxing view on the Mediterranean. So we headed to Zaitunay Bay.

The menu includes a selection of uniquely executed items. My friend went for the Park Avenue Chicken Club, while I – ever craving hot and spicy flavors – took what the waitress recommended, and had the El Gringo Burger. The food was sensational. Both presentation and flavor wise.

Even if you’re not out for food, you can always pass by and enjoy a drink and/or a desert at their terrace, or lazily lounge indoors in the cold winter days. Any time of the year, St Elmo’s is always almost full. It is mostly loved by the trendiest crowd, the tourists and families alike!

We will let the pictures speak for themselves… Leave us a comment on how much you’d like to visit St Elmo’s, if you haven’t yet.

{This image is a courtesy of St Elmo’s}

Photos are a courtesy of Cloud of Lace, unless otherwise indicated.

Brunch at Bread Republic

Tags

Beirut, Bread, Bread Republic, Brunch, Hamra, Omlette, Ras Beirut

Sunny Saturday morning, fresh Beiruti breeze, and a sweet get together date with dear ones after a long departure dictated a cozy outdoor outing over some cozy meal… & Bread Republic perfectly serves this purpose.

Located in a walking distance from where I was residing in Hamra, it was refreshing to get to Bread Republic amidst an odd collection of beautiful old houses and shops that are threatened of being demolished in favor of the new elegant, glass and cement towers that are invading Ras Beirut. We chose to sit outside, taking benefit from the warmth of the sun, beside some friendly international tourists, journalists and a bunch of college students.

Bread Republic offers home-made like platters and freshly squeezed juices. My omelette was composed of eggs scrambled with gruyere cheese, wrapping fresh green thyme leaves, chopped tomatoes, a sprinkle of green onions. The omelette was perfectly paired with a freshly baked slice of bread… It was a pure delight on such a lazy beautiful Saturday 🙂

Cavalli Caffè Beirut

Tags

Beirut, Cavalli Caffè, Cavalli Caffe Beirut, Italian cuisine, Roberto Cavalli

Photo via robertocavalliblog.com

I was delighted to find out that Cavalli Caffè has officially and finally opened its doors yesterday, Friday January 4th in Beirut.

Located in Karagulla Building, right next to Beirut Souks, the prestigious business, shopping, dining and nightlife district of Down Town Beirut, the Cavalli Caffè over looks a breath-taking view of the Mediterranean Sea.

Beside offering a wide mouth-watering selection of the finest Italian dishes, Beirut’s Cavalli Caffè will also showcase a boutique shop that will sell a wide range of imported Italian delicacies, like chocolate gift boxes, Cavalli Reserve red Wine, Cavalli Premium Italian Vodka and Grappa, among others.

It’s decoration definitely reflects Cavalli’s signature creative touch, which can be noted in the zebra and giraffe prints on the fashionable chairs and sofas, in the crystal lamps as well as other striking details of the contemporary interior.

“Experiencing the enjoyment of exquisite food and surrounded by pleasant company, sipping a delicious cup of Italian coffee… this is the Cavalli Caffè philosophy. My desire was to transmit my deep passion for beauty and sensuality in a hospitality project… I believe Beirut will rapidly become a big fan of Cavalli Caffè”, said Roberto Cavalli, Chairman of Roberto Cavalli Group.

I can’t wait to show you more details of their cuisine and interior decoration!

Leila Min Lebnen

Tags

Beirut, dining in Lebanon, Lebanese cuisine, Lebanese food, Lebanese restaurant, Lebanon, Leila, Leila Restaurant

Leila Min Lebnen, literally translates to ‘Leila from Lebanon,’ is relatively a newly established destination for authentic Lebanese cuisine, since back to 2006. It’s owners have now expanded the brand to include two delightful new outlets Kahwet Leila (Leila’s Coffee shop) and Matbakh Leila (Leila’s kitchen).

Leila restaurant has many branches in Lebanon, and in Beirut itself, as well as the GCC and now Alexandria. I always used to visit its very first branch in ABC Mall Achrafieh, however, I have fell in love, thanks to a couple of my friends, with the one in Dbayeh. Purely delightful! & I’m not just talking about the food here.

Photo courtesy of Leila Restaurant

Photo via my iPhone

It’s decoration is a simple and modern mix of vintage Lebanese items: labels of music icons, traditional coffee sets, shelves of mason jars and clay pots of traditional jam, syrups, vinegar bottles and labneh makbouseh, and not to forget beautiful chandeliers and oh… Flower arrangements, fresh and lovely on almost every table 🙂

Leila’s clientele are almost from all backgrounds, for despite the dispute among the Lebanese, ironically, two things can successfully pull us together: Food and fashion. Also, it’s a must go-to destination for all tourists alike. some make it almost a daily routine! Stopping by for coffee, some dessert, or an arghileh (of which I hate!).

We went for dinner last time, and have had a luscious array of Lebanese Mezze: Humus with minced beef on top, aubergine Mtabbal (baked aubergine with tahini, lemon juice and a sprinkle of salt, topped with olive oil when presented), Sujuk (Armenian hot sausages), Tabbouleh (shame on you if you don’t know what that is 😉 ), Fattoush (traditional Lebanese salad), Rahib salad (or the Monk’s salad: baked aubergine with some minced tomato, parsley, onions, lemon juice that could be substituted with pomegranate, and topped with olive oil upon presentation), Batata Harra (fried potato cubes, with coriander, garlic and hot spices), Makanik (Lebanese sausages), potatoes that are baked in an old-fashioned wooden oven, and freshly made Lebanese bread… Yummmm… As for the main dish, we had the famous Arayiss Kafta (Lebanese kabab wrapped within two layers of Lebanese bread, and baked), served with old-fashioned yogurt with chopped cucumbers and garlic. All were perfectly delicious…

Whether you are in Lebanon, Dubai, Bahrain, Egypt, or Kuwait, Leila Min Lebnen is definitely a must go to destination if you would like to grasp a bit of the Lebanese culture, with a modern twist. Don’t forget to grab one (or some) of their traditionally made Lebanese jam and syrups! Ask any of the staff to help you make a choice, they are so helpful and friendly!

Until next time!

Xoxo,

Hiba Min Lebnen

Lebanese Mezze. Photo courtesy of Leila Restaurant

Batata Harra

Humous with minced beef on top. Photo via my iPhone

Clockwise from top right: Raheb salad, Lebanese bread, Tabbouleh and Fattoush salad. image via my iPhone.

Arayis Kafta

Photo courtesy of Leila Restaurant

Lebanese bread being made on the spot! Photo courtesy of Leila Restaurant

Photo courtesy of Leila Restaurant

Simply beautiful. Photo courtesy of Leila Restaurant

 

Easy Cheesecake

Tags

blackberry cheesecake, Cheesecake, Cream cheese, easy cheesecake, recipe

I’m in love with cheesecake… All the forms and flavors of cheesecake! But have never thought it was possible to be done at home, this easy!

Ingredients:

Two packs Digestive light biscuits, finely grounded

11 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 packs of Philadelphia cream cheese (about 200g each)

1 1/4 cups condensed milk, sweetened to taste

250 g blackberry jam

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons sugar

Method:

1. Mix grated biscuits with sugar and butter, until well combined
2. Press this mixture into a medium-sized pan (diameter of 23 cm), until completely flat, then put the pan in the fridge
3. Using a mixer, beat the cream cheese until it’s smoother, then slowly add the milk, bit by bit
4. Add the vanilla, and mix well
5. Pour the on top of the crust,and smooth the surface
6. Cover with a plastic bag and refrigerate for three hours, until firm
7. cover the surface with your favorite type of jam. Mine is obviously blackberry 😀
8. Unclasp the sides of the pan… & Enjoy!

The best part of my cheesecake is that I used fresh cow milk, and home-made Jam! Triumph! Now I’m sure that I’m not only getting the fatty stuff, but also some vitamins and Calcium on the side 😉

I made some single-portions for visitors… How do you like my presentation? 🙂

Rose-Water Syrup

Tags

arabic food, arabic syrups, cooking, home-made, Ramadan, Ramadan traditions, Rose, rose-water syrup, rosewater

As served at St. Elmo’s Seaside Brasserie

One of the well-preserved traditions during Ramadan is serving rose-water extract at the Foutour table, which takes place at sunset, on every eve of the month, after a long day of fasting.

In addition to being a gourmet drink at so many high-end local and international cuisines around town, especially during Ramadan, this drink serves as a delicious refresher to restore lost hydration while fasting. Rose-water extract is also known for its delicious aroma, subtle sweet taste, and distinctively attractive color.

Even though we’re not a family of fasting, but the rose-water extract is a tradition we kept thanks to my grandma. Here’s how it’s made:

1. Collect as many healthy red rose blooms from your garden as you can.

2. Fill a pot with these pretty red petals, add enough water just to cover them, and put on a stove to heat until they just simmer, not boil, for 30 minutes.

3. Remove the petals from the rose-water and discard them. Then add more fresh petals to the same water for as much as the water can hold, and simmer for another 30 minutes.

4. Continue simmering red rose petals with the same water, until it turns deep pink or reddish, and a deep scent fills the air. The more petals you use, the more concentrated the syrup will be.

5. Allow the remaining water to cool to lukewarm. Then add 750 g of granulated sugar to each liter of the rose-water.

6. Stir the mixture over a very low heat, until sugar is fully dissolved, and there are no crystals at the bottom of the pan.

Note: Keep the heat low to just warm the liquid, and not make it a sugar concentrate!

Allow the syrup to cool before refrigerating it. You can also make rose-water syrup ice cubes, and add to lemonade! Pure delicacy!

Serve cold, with ice, and some pine seeds if desired! 🙂

Here’s another way to serve rose-water syrup; With traditional Arabic/Turkish ice cream:

As served in a local restaurant in Antakya, Turkey

Photos courtesy of: St Elmo’s Seaside Brasserie & Istanbul Food.

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Tags

Beirut, Chocolate chip, chocolate chip muffins, Muffin, sweets

It’s Saturday, and the weather is literally amazing now in Beirut, with sunny blue skies, and enough cool breeze to keep the heat away…. And I’m going to work in a few hours! Working at the Children’s Cancer Center has a lot of sweet moments, but also bitter ones. So, to lighten up my mood and keep those spirits high, I’ve decided to prepare lovely muffins, in hopes that they remedy a Saturday night spent at work.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

110g Butter

1 cup milk

1 small tbsp vanilla

1 small tbsp baking powder

1/2 small tbsp salt

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Semi-sweet chocolate chips. You can also use different kinds of berries.

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200 C.
2. Mix the flour and baking powder in a large bowl. Rub in the butter until the mixture is  like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar & the chocolate chips.
3. In another bowl, mix the eggs, vanilla and milk together, then pour this mixture into the dry ingredients & mix briefly.
4. Spoon the batter into the muffin cases in the pan, and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until risen, firm to touch, and golden in color.
5. After cooling for 10 minutes in the tin, you can transfer them to the presenting plate, and serve right away!

Ok. They do kinda look weird… This is my first attempt at making muffins! The recipe is simple and easy, and took me almost no time at all! I’m still going to take some with me to work to pamper my friends 😉

La Bodeguita Del Medio Beirut

Tags

Beirut, Che Guevara, Cigar Lounge Beirut, Cuba, Cuban, Cuban cuisine, Havana, La Bodeguita, La Bodeguita Del Medio Beirut

Image by Beiruting.com

Cuddled up in the heart of Beirut, La Bodeguita Del Medio  brings the essence and spirit of Havana, Cuba… With its Cuban style decoration, colored walls that are covered with signs and frames of significant Cuban symbols, vintage wooden floors and tables, luxurious Cigar displays and lounge, authentic Cuban cuisine as well as culture-specific cocktails, all are engulfed with the tunes of authentic Latino rhythms, played by the Cuban band.

Image by Beirutnightlife.com

This place, located at the old Damascus Road, has an attractive architecture. It’s design is distinct with a high sense for every detail. From the exterior look and feel of La Bodeguita’s building, right to its door handle. From the lighting, to the smell of the air inside (which is a mixture of high quality Cigar and wood), to the widespread happy spirit present among its clientele, and then right to the mouth-watering taste of its delicious food (especially La Bodeguita Del Medio’s specialty ice cream, that contains rum raisins), and drinks, especially Mojito’s  😉

Image via Beirut.com

Each and every time I visit, I can’t but admire the exquisite interior design, with all those Che Guevara pictures, paintings and illustrations, those photos of Havana and cuban people, in addition to some celebrities & happy customers… The look & feel of the place are inspired by the original one first established in Cuba, and then those founded in Miami, Berlin, Prague, Kiev, London, & several other cities around the world.

Image via Beirutnightlife.com

The place is constituted of two floors, and a terrace for the warmer season. The ground floor is where the bar, the cigar lounge, & the band are, whereas the upper floor is constituted of elegant tables, set around a square central opening, that ensures the spirit of the ongoing Salsa & the band to spread upstairs. Note that even if you’re sitting at the upper floor, the band will also pay you a visit! 🙂

At the upper floor. – Image by Beirutbightlife.com

Even though I dislike the conventional smell of cigarettes, and I don’t smoke myself, I can’t help but admire the smell of the tobacco leaves that constitute a fine authentic Cuban Cigar. The Cigar lounge, with a Cigar menu containing a wide array of fine cigars that are also beautifully displayed, is quite admirable.

Later on in the evening, as the music goes louder (and the cocktails start to have their effects), you’d see people, from all ages, happily dancing on Latino rhythms played by the band, all with wide smiles on their faces, everyone partnering with everyone, dancing and wandering around, clapping for the musicians, greeting us and everybody with just a smile and a nod as they go by, as if everybody truly know everyone around! The place is surely a hit for both amateur, as well as authentic senior Salsa lovers.

For all the people who are always fascinated by the authentic Cuban culture, La Bodeguita Del Medio Beirut, will guarantee you a rich experience for all your 5 senses, leaving you in the most jolly mood by the time your evening ends…

image by Beirutnightlife.com

Aleida Guevara at La Bodeguita Beirut. – Image by Beirutnightlife.com

Some interesting wall illustration of Guevara. – Image taken via my iPhone.

Il Siciliano

Tags

Beirut, Beirut restaurants, Food, home-made pasta, Il Siciliano Beirut, Italian cuisine, Italian restaurants, Italian seafood, seafood, Sicilian cuisine, Siciliano, Sicily

Opened back in 2006, this magical place called Il Siciliano, was designed and executed down to each and every detail, to allow its visitors to be transformed in time and place, into the good old days of the charming Italian island of Sicily.

Image via my iPhone

From the moment we entered this three-storied restaurant, we took the notion of its inviting ambiance, which is a mixture of traditional Sicilian casa architecture, Sicilian decoration and appealing aromas. Add to these, just the right touch of chic modernity in some details.

We were greeted with great hospitality that accompanied us throughout the evening. Our waiter was not only nice and friendly, but also very knowledgeable about each and every dish! It was our first time at Il Siciliano, and he was good enough to make us completely rely on him to choose the variety of dishes we ate through out our dinner… & everything we had was simply marvelous!

I never really dare to order seafood pasta or pizza anywhere, because I rarely end up liking it. It either is too salty, too dry, too raw (with non-fresh ingredients, so you could imagine the taste), or just too much of the other ingredients with only one tiny baby shrimp and a small piece of canned calamari to justify the name! However, Il Siciliano proved to be top of the line when it comes to Italian seafood dishes.

Each and every plate had been a feast by itself. Made with the freshest of herbs, vegetables lamb and seafood, with authentic olive oil, home-made pasta, and of course those several kinds luscious cheese and freshly made bread (that you won’t get enough of its smell!).

Here, take a look at some of what was on our table 😉 (but please, excuse my poor iPhone camera, and the dim – but nice – lighting of the place)

Image via my iPhone

Image via my iPhone

Image via my iPhone

Image via my iPhone

Image via my iPhone

I personally mark Il Siciliano as one of the best ‘culinary spots’ in Beirut. It definitely is a must try for all of you who love traditional Italian food that is made to perfection at the Casa Della Sicilia, or even if you’re just looking for a nice quite outing, to enjoy a drink and a Cigar indoors at their Chicago Bar, or at their marvelous garden Giardino di Palermo, under an olive tree, enjoying lemon and rosemary scents.

One small remark: I’d have loved to listen to some traditional Italian folklore or opera music playing in the background, instead of the excessively long pauses that were interrupted with short pieces of the classics. It was only our first time there, I’m sure there must have been an explanation, like us showing up early for dinner, since usually in Lebanon, the ‘real’ outing starts at around 10.30pm & onwards 😉

— Images that are not taken via my iPhone, are a courtesy of Il Siciliano.

Pink Risotto

Tags

Butter, dinner, Garlic, lunch, Onion, parmesan cheese, pink sauce, Rice, Risotto, tomato, white sauce

Image via my iPhone. Unedited, so please excuse the spill over the side of the dish!

Ingredients:

2 cups italian rice.

3.5 to 4 cups cooking cream

2 cups water

2 tbsp butter

1 cup minced onion

1 clove garlic, minced

3 medium-sized tomatoes, peeled, seeded and minced

1/2 cup minced mushrooms (canned)

2 cups grated parmesan cheese

A few fresh basil leaves

Salt & ground pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Combine the water & cream, heat to simmer, & then keep the pot over low heat.

2. Melt butter over medium heat, add onions & stir until they are transparent in color. Add the Garlic, then add rice, and stir constantly for one minute.

3. add the rice to the water & milk mixture, and cook for around 15 minutes. Stir slowly every now & then, or else the rice would stick to the bottom of the pan.

4. Add the mushrooms and tomatoes. Cook until rice has become tender, but slightly chewy, and most of the liquids have been absorbed.

5. Stir in the parmesan cheese, until it’s completely molten & blended into the other remaining contents. Add the salt & pepper.

The rice should take around 20 minutes all together. Add water or cream if you think it’s needed, when the rice becomes over-dry.

Spoon the ridiculously yummy risotto into plates. Sprinkle with fresh basil, & serve immediately!

If you’re feeling more sinful than any other day, sprinkle (a very slight amount of) Gruyère cheese on top as well 😉