Multi-generational Lebanese food experience in Beirut

Host offerings

Notes: Please note that Amal lives in Aramoun, which is about 20 minutes from Beirut International Airport and Beirut city. Round-trip transportation from Beirut hotels is included in the price of your experience. Please indicate your hotel name and address and Amal will pick you up and drop you off at the end of your culinary experience. <br><br>Amal can offer vegetarian, vegan and halal meals on request - please include your preference, if any in your booking form.

Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007ffaf21c9ce8>

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.

• Tabouleh
• Seasonal soup
• Spicy potato
• Mtabal (mashed eggplant with tahini and lemon)
• Meat main options: Kibbeh (traditional Lebanese beef dish) or raas asfour (meat in pomegranate sauce and pine nuts) or chicken mograbeye

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GOOD REVIEWS
{ "ambassador" : [{"author_name" : "May ", "rating" : 5, "body" : "Travelers will be feeling a true Lebanese hospitality experience. From the lovely hosts that do their best to make you feel at home, to the charming views of the Lebanese mountains (and to say it is only 20 min max from Beirut) to the very delicious food prepared with love and care by two women who just love their kitchens and feeding people! It was a lovely experience. "}], "trip_advisor" : [{"author_name" : "418aminas", "rating" : 5, "body" : "Amal and her family were really welcoming and amazing! My ten year old daughter wanted to take the class, and Amal was very patient with her. Amal’s parents, husband, Khalid, two daughters, and sisters were also there. We shared the meal together. After we ate, we were able to chat, and I learned a lot about the Lebanese culture. It was so fun and relaxing. It has been one of the best experiences of our trip so far!"}, {"author_name" : "dvanleeuwen83", "rating" : 5, "body" : "Des cours de cuisine bien expliqués, un repas délicieux et copieux, mais surtout une famille chaleureuse, accueillante. En plus d’une expérience culinaire, ce fut une merveilleuse rencontre. Merci encore mille fois Amal pour cette fabuleuse et inoubliable journée ! ( well explained cooking course, a delicious meal and above all a warm, welcoming family. Thank you again Amal for this wonderful day !)"}, {"author_name" : "Global01561427892", "rating" : 5, "body" : "We were welcomed like old friends into Amal's family home where her father gave us a tour of the productive garden and his delightful traditional house in the hills just outside Beirut. We learned to make some delicious Lebanese dishes with Amal's mother showing us proper techniques, and wiled away the afternoon with conversation that gave new insights into Lebanese culture and politics. Thanks to all the family for a delightful and memorable experience."}, {"author_name" : "Donna N", "rating" : 5, "body" : "I had no idea what to expect when I booked a private cooking class with Amal. She and her husband picked me up at my hotel and drove me to the lovely home of her parents. When we arrived I was greeted by Amal's parents like I was a long lost member of the family. I felt very comfortable from the start. We all sat down to get to know each other a bit. Amal's mother brought in freshly picked and squeezed pomegranate juice and plates of pickled vegetables. After some conversation Amal took me out to show me the extensive garden in the back. Her parents grow all the fruits and vegetables they serve to family and guests. They also make their own vinegar from the grapes. I was raised on Lebanese and Syrian food so I am familiar with many dishes. Amal taught me how to make \"Kibbee Sayneya.\" She added a couple of ingredients that I had never thought to include. While Amal put the meat and vegetables through the grinder, her mom was busy making the stuffing for the kibbee. It was lovely to watch mother and daughter work together to create the dish.A couple of whole unpeeled eggplants were cooking on the stove while the kibbee was being prepared. Once the kibbee was assembled in the pan and put in the oven, she began preparing the now cooked eggplants for Mutabal also known as Baba Ghanouj. She skillfully peeled and mashed the eggplant by hand. Added garlic, tahini, lemon juice, and labna, along with salt and pepper to finish it off. Amal's mom then made the dough for \"Maakaroun\" cookies. They consist of a light dough, fried and then drenched with rose water sugar syrup (Attar). It was obvious she is a professional at mixing the dough and forming the cookies with her hands and the side of a grater. She was quick and each cookies was uniform with a pretty honeycomb like design. I was very impressed. Once the cookies were done, we all went into the dining room for lunch. The entire table was covered with appetizers, salads, main dishes, fresh and pickled vegetables, olives and bread. It was a feast for the eyes to see. Every dish was delicious, fresh and authentically Lebanese. Needless to say I wished I could have eaten more. Amal's adorable father kept serving me extra portions of his favorite foods. He offered and I accepted a couple glasses of Arak to go with the meal. Since I got full quickly and didn't get to try everything, Amal and her mother packed cookies and food for me to take back to my hotel. After the main meal we all sat down in another room to have dessert, coffee, tea and fresh fruits. Amal's father even peeled some freshly picked pink pomegranate for me to try. The Maakaroun cookies were delicious. I also got to meet Amal's daughters who are both attending university. We all had a wonderful time, sharing good conversation. I have never felt more welcomed than I did spending the afternoon with Amal and her family. Amal is a skillful cook who has a flair for teaching as she puts together a dish. I would recommend without reservation booking a private class with her. It will be an experience you won't forget. I am grateful I did it. Sahtein to those of you who do it in the future. My deepest heartfelt thank you to Amal and her entire family for a wonderful experience and very full stomach!"}, {"author_name" : "MarkoIST", "rating" : 5, "body" : "What I like most about traveling to new places is when I go with very high expectations and then enjoy those expectations being exceeded So, we arranged a dinner + cooking lessons with Amal in her family home. Location (just outside of Beirut) is perfect and it gives a lovely extra taste of Lebanon. Amal and her husband Khaled ensure maximum comfort by dropping us from and to our hotel. The house is amazing - literally a mini museum with lovely stories all over it (the workshop, the olive millstone, the ironwork, the photos...) The cherry on top is of course the magnificent garden where everything grows - even pomelo! And so the dinner table was full of healthy, organic ingredients. But the mini tour around the house/garden was just the beginning.We agreed to go with soup, tabouleh, home-made falafel, mtabal, raas asfour and the makaroon dessert. Needles to say the table was packed with plenty of other yummy dishes to try and there was no way to decide which one tasted better.Spending some time with Amal and her mother in the kitchen was so joyful! Now I know how to make a perfect tabouleh and I’ve learned to appreciate an effort behind a real falfel wrap - which tastes better than any burger in the world, I kid you not.I guess the most memorable moment from the cooking class was learning those small but all-important tricks about shaping the pieces of falafel/makaroon with the help of appropriate tools. And I could even do it properly The value of this activity and unreal food experience was multiplied with fantastic chat with Amal, her parents, husband and daughters. We learned so much about Lebanese culture and felt so good in the company of like-minded people who like to share stories and experience along with good food and a few drinks. This travel experience was second to none. Amal was such a great host and the value of this encounter by far exceeds anything massive tourism has to offer. Needless to say we will definitely come back!"}] }

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