Customer Reviews

2 reviews

• Celine

  Mervat has created a recipe book like no other I have come across; to start with, I have never seen so many recipes in a cookbook, she seems to have managed to put the whole of Lebanon into pages. Being Lebanese myself, I have been looking for a recipe book that make sure I do not forget my heritage, that I can allow the tradition to live on. This book provides EVERY. SINGLE. RECIPE. I can think of that I grew up eating, happy or sad, sick or healthy.
  
  Mervat, however, took the concept of a recipe book a step further. Touching upon more that the simple physicality of cooking and eating, she based the book upon sentiment- sentiment of culture and growing up, sentiment of loved ones and lost ones, sentiment of food as unity of a people and invitation to the inside for a potential outsider. To say the least, I feel the essence of my country through this book.
  
  For anyone who is unfamiliar with the food and culture of Lebanon, I would recommend this as a wise introductory book; whilst Mervat does have all the recipes one would need to know Lebanon, she also breaks it down to the cement and bricks of our food. She has sections on each spice, herb and seasoning and its importance in our cooking. She also includes dips and sauces, making sure not to lack any part of what, altogether, makes Lebanese food the delicacy that it is globally known for.
  
  Lebanese and non-Lebanese, beginner and advanced, this book demands that everybody learn something. Mervat is seemingly an expert not just in cooking, but an expert in Lebanon, as she made it an art in itself...
  

• Rana Chahine

  A Taste of Lebanon is a beautiful and unique collection of classic and timeless recipes that span Lebanon and beyond. Whether you’re a newbie to Lebanese cuisine or familiar to it, vegan, vegetarian or enjoy your meat and fish, there is something tantalising and new for everyone. Mervat covers a wonderful spectrum of basic ingredients of our cuisine such as tangy sumac spice, the versatile and delicious Zaatar while taking us on a wonderful journey of memories and stories of her childhood in Lebanon and the village in the South during the war. We gain insight into how these ingredients are collected and then prepared
  
  The pickling recipes make something which seems quite complex so simple and easy to follow. The lamb shank Soup that Saved the Son is simple but mouthwatering, and the story behind it very touching.
  I love the variety of salads, especially the Beetroot and Tahini salad. Who knew that Fish shawarma was even a dish but I can’t wait to try it.
  A must have for everyone’s cookbook collection.
  

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