Taste of Lebanon

Jisr Rachin

Before arriving in Lebanon, I had expected to go out and about seeing where most of my fondest childhood memories were. I also set the bar high when it came to trying authentic and traditional Lebanese cuisine.

As back home, I’ve been to many Lebanese restaurants and very few have brought me back every time. There is a certain restaurant that I shall be posting a review about, in the next week or so.

Stuffed grape leaves with rice and herbs.

When I was staying in Lebanon I went to a beautiful restaurant with my family named Jisr Rachin located in Zgharta, which is about 9km from Tripoli. The beautiful city where I was residing and where my family and friends live. Zgharta is a large town in North Lebanon and is about 150 metres above sea level. This was my second favourite place and where I loved to spend most of my time. The atmosphere, culture, friendly people and town made me fall in love with the area.

Jisr Rachin has the finest authentic and traditional Lebanese food on offer from freshly made tabouli, mouth-watering barbequed meat dishes to locally grown fruits and excellent teas and coffee.

Freshly made bread served with each meal.

Side dishes.

Side dishes.

Kibbeh (a meat dish made from bulghur, minced onions and finely ground lean beef)

As you can see from the pictures I have taken, it pretty much speaks for itself. The food could not get any better. For the appetisers there was a large serving on offer, the tabouli was freshly made from locally grown vegetables and labne (strained yoghurt) was absolutely divine. How could I forget the beautiful taste and texture of dolmas’? Dolma is a common Middle Eastern vegetable dish that is stuffed with other vegetable dishes. However Dolma is sometimes stuffed with meat.

 

I could go on and on about how much I love Lebanese food? But that’s not going to happen. Yum…. it’s making me hungry just contemplating my time back in Lebanon and how good the food is. -sigh-       

Not only was the food fabulous, did I mention the view? The view was breath taking as my family and I enjoyed our meal. The beautiful Autumn breeze as we seated next to the lovely river by our sides. 🙂

If you ever do get a chance to visit Lebanon, I strongly suggest you coming to this restaurant as its worth your adventure and without a doubt you won’t regret. 🙂

Overall rating and experience is 5/5. I’ll be definitely coming here on my next trip to Lebanon.

Take care my lovelies. 🙂

– Jazo

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Cinnamon Anise Tea – Lebanese Cuisine

Cinnamon Anise Tea

Hello my darlings 🙂

I’ve had dinner at Yasmin 1, at the Chester Hill restaurant many times and at the end of every meal you receive free cinnamon tea

Baba Ghanouj

or coffee. I’ve been to many Yasmin 1 restaurants around Sydney, such as the ones in Bankstown, Punchbowl, Auburn and Lakemba. I’m sure there are many more Yasmin 1 restaurants in Sydney, but I simply can’t name them all off the top of my head.

Falafel

By far, this Yasmin 1 is one of the best Lebanese restaurants I’ve been too in a very long time. If you’re interested in enjoying a home-style Lebanese meal, then your best option is to go there because it’s as best you can get to a decent home cooked Lebanese meal. Their serving, price and size of meals they offer is excellent for choice and you can’t go wrong.

Mixed Plate

I absolutely love their cinnamon tea after every meal I’ve had there, it has such a refreshing cinnamon after taste from the saltiness of Lebanese food. As much as I love Lebanese food, there are times when you don’t notice the saltiness until afterwards.

Cinnamon tea or coffee is a traditional Middle Eastern beverage to end your meal. Sometimes people have the preference of one or the other, others might enjoy the taste of both. I personally always have the number one preference of enjoying cinnamon tea. I usually have two to three cups after a meal. It’s a guilty pleasure of mine … shush don’t tell anyone. 😉

I didn’t realise until now, but did you know there are health benefits to drinking cinnamon tea? From what I have read, the cinnamon tea benefits include:

–        Anti-Oxidants

–        Helps people who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

–        Helps the Menstrual cycle

–        Indigestion

–        Blood sugar control

–        Weight loss and belly fat reduction

–        Cognition, Alertness and memory

–        Blood circulation

–        Mouth freshener

–        Helps in the flu season

See link below

Please note: this is my own personal opinion and done on the basis of my own research. I am not a qualified G.P., Pharmacist, or Health Practitioner.

Cheerio 🙂

– Jazo

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.