Lebanese cuisine — one of world's most famous. Mezze, hummus, tabbouleh, grills. Trilogy: chickpeas, olive oil, lemon. Healthy and Mediterranean.
Mezze
Mezze — heart of Lebanese table. 30-50 small dishes: hummus, mutabbal, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, fattoush, labneh, kibbeh nayyeh, grape leaves, shanklish, makdous, sujuk. Long social meal.
Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh — national salad. Parsley + bulgur + onion + tomatoes + olive oil + lemon + mint + salt. Green dominates, bulgur just touch.
Kibbeh
Kibbeh — minced meat + bulgur + onion + spices. Kibbeh nayyeh (raw, Lebanese tartare), fried kibbeh, kibbeh on tray, kibbeh with lentils. National dish.
Grills
Shish taouk (chicken), shish kebab (meat), kofta. On charcoal. With toum (garlic crushed in oil — national sauce). Frouj (whole grilled chicken).
Bread and Manakish
Lebanese bread thin. Manakish (flatbread with zaatar, cheese or meat) — national breakfast, bakery every morning.
Sweets
Baklava, knafeh with cheese, maamoul (for holidays with dates or pistachios), kallaj, malabi, katayef (for Ramadan), aysh el saraya, cheese halva.
Drinks
Arak — national drink, turns white mixed with water, drunk with mezze. Turkish coffee. Rose water, karkadeh, qamar el din juice Ramadan. Black tea.