Ingredient appreciation — what makes Manakish special

What sets Manakish apart is the handling of pine nuts. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the fresh and citrusy result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Lebanese hospitality is expressed through abundance on the table. The a Beirut street stall atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had arak as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Manakish is the place to start.