Flavors of the Neighborhood

A mix of Lebanese cheeses, pickles, and baked goods from Beirut's Jewish neighborhood.

As Sheila walked along Rue de l’Alliance, the main street of their neighborhood, she passed:

  • The pickle vendor on one corner.
  • The dairy shop, where her father bought yogurt in clay bowls, dried curds, and cheeses like Akkawi, Halloumi, and Kashkaval.
  • The bakery, where pita bread was sold by the kilo. If the weight was a little short, the baker would tear off a piece from another loaf to balance it.
  • The roasted corn stall, where cobs were grilled over hot coals. Even when Sheila had no money to buy one, she would stop just to inhale the charred aroma.
  • The French pastry shop on the ground floor of their building, filling the air with the scent of croissants and Sablé au Chocolat.

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