Lunch at Tawlet
June 15, 2010 • Category: Reviews
Tawlet is yet another of Kamal Mouzawak‘s creations and a must-stop on your foodie tour of Beirut’s restaurants. The concept of Tawlet is unique: give a chance to Lebanon’s artisan foodproducers and cooks from different regions and villages to showcase their traditional dishes on a rotating basis. Every Friday morning, the menu (which varies daily) is published on the restaurant’s website.
Today, we had dishes showcasing the city of Tripoli and the surrounding villages in the North of the country: we tasted a kibbeh stuffed with eggplant mousse, ouzé, (puff pastry stuffed with meat or chicken, rice and spices (a specialty from Tripoli), kafta in yogurt sauce, a wheat berry and chickencasserole (requiring 5 hours on the stove), a dandelion salad, a wild purslane and yogurt salad, a swiss chard and blackeyed pea stir-fry, several traditional desserts and of course some fresh fruit salad and cherries from Hammana.
Service is buffet-style and all-you-can-eat (from 1 to 4 PM) although drinks (wine, arak, coffees) can be ordered.
At our communal table,Kamal, Nabeel, a journalist from the New York Times; Massimo, an Italian press correspondent based in Cairo , visiting Beirut for a little stress relief (!!); Michael Karam, the author of a celebrated book on Lebanese winemaking, and Madeleine from the UK, representing Coco (PR).
Tawlet: +961 1 448 129, Mar Mikhael, Beirut, Lebanon
Comments
56 Comments • Comments Feed
Katerina says:
i will keep that in my notes when I visit Beirut. It sounds a lot of fun.
On June 15, 2010 at 2:34 am
Joanne T Ferguson says:
G’day! Big thanks! I always enjoy following your blog and sharing my newly acquired ffinds with friends. I tried to click on the restaurant’s website and get an error message. Can you please update the link and or provide us with the URL? Thank you! Always curious to learn something new and am P-A-S-S-I-O-N-A-T-E about world cuisines. Thank you!
On June 15, 2010 at 2:49 am
Rosa says:
What gorgeous food! It seems to be a great place. I wouldn’t mind having lunch there…
Cheers,
Rosa
On June 15, 2010 at 4:05 am
Jojo says:
I’m not sure which is better – the communal table or the food! Bringing people together, that is the amazing power of Lebanese food!!!
On June 15, 2010 at 5:03 am
Cherine says:
I’ve already heard abt this place. Will pay it a visit when i go 🙂
On June 15, 2010 at 5:17 am
brian_in_gib says:
Hi Joumana,
I loved this post and your previous one about Kamal. He sounds full of energy and positive ideas. And what excellent dining companions! I bet you the tales and anecdotes flowed.
Keep those posts coming…
Brian
On June 15, 2010 at 5:24 am
Nathalie says:
Quelle belle nourriture … et quelle diversité !!!
On June 15, 2010 at 7:03 am
peter says:
You’ve been in Lebanon a wee? No signs of jet-lag, you’ve continued the same blogging pace and from the smile on your face at the table…you’ve landed home, very content. Happy for your homecoming and for us with a “hands on” blog on the pulse of Lebanese cuisine.
On June 15, 2010 at 7:15 am
Doc says:
Awesome,
I want your guide book when you get back. BTW, I noticed the wine bottles so I hope that was your stress relief! Have Fun,
-Doc
On June 15, 2010 at 7:52 am
taina says:
Lovely. This is a must. I will make my husband take me there when we go to Beirut. I hope to take a day to see the museums, so maybe we can fit our lunch in here.
On June 15, 2010 at 10:03 am
Suman Singh says:
love the foods on your table…they looks fabulous…enjoy reading your post every time…keep those post coming…:)
On June 15, 2010 at 10:30 am
Nadji says:
La prochaine fois, je t’accompagne.
A bientôt.
On June 15, 2010 at 11:03 am
Heavenly Housewife says:
The food looks wonderful, but truthfully, all you can eat is a big problem for me– I always do eat all I can eat, and then i feel sick LOL.
On June 15, 2010 at 11:16 am
heguiberto says:
I am so excited you went to Tawlet, the food looks great. That confirms the glowing review Gastronomica has given to Tawlet.
H
On June 15, 2010 at 11:55 am
Amber @Almost Vegan says:
That kibbe is so cool-looking!
On June 15, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Lori says:
Very neat restaurant. I would love to try the foods there. Okay I am going to live vicariously through you for the next few posts. I am loving this.
On June 15, 2010 at 1:18 pm
sweetlife says:
the food looks incredible, thanks for sharing your review, and great pic of the communal table..
sweetlife
On June 15, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Priya says:
Wat a delicious and tempting foods..beautiful restaurant indeed..
On June 15, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Faith says:
I absolutely love the unique concept of this restaurant. It looks like it was a wonderful time!
On June 15, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Hanaa says:
You’re in Beirut!! Nice, good for you. Enjoy the food bounty and the gorgeous weather. Some of the foods you mentioned, I’m familiar with and some, I’m not. But when you said wild purslane, it struck a cord. I love purslane (considered a weed here in the US – I’m lucky enough to have tons of this “weed” growing in my garden). In Morocco, they make a side dish with it using all sorts of spices (cumin, paprika), lots of garlic, preserved lemons, fresh herbs (cilantro, parsley), olive oil and lots of olives. I just came back from visiting Morocco and of course, enjoyed this dish thoroughly (among many many others).
On June 15, 2010 at 3:40 pm
john@heneedsfood says:
Look like a wonderful restaurant. All you can eat! Now we’re talking!
On June 15, 2010 at 5:11 pm
marla says:
What a fun and delicious looking lunch! So fun to be surrounded by friends and great food. You are so pretty in your photos 🙂
On June 15, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Rajani says:
joumana everything looks delicious, a very unique concept for a restaurant! enjoying your recent posts 🙂
On June 15, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Joanne says:
I’m pretty sure I was born in the wrong country. EGGPLANT MOUSSE! I’m amazed.
On June 15, 2010 at 9:13 pm
citronetvanille says:
OH dis donc on rencontre des tas de gens qui viennent de partout à Beirut, c’est génial! En tout cas, moi je crois que j’adorerais la cuisine libanaise, c’est exactement ce que j’aime, ca semble un mixte entre la Meditérranée et l’Orient. Votre pain plat ressemble enormement au pain sarde, il pane carasau qui est tout fin et croquant. Enfin bref, les Arabes ont conquis la Sardaigne pendant de nombreux siècles d’ou les similarités culinaires :o)
On June 15, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Sue Stephens says:
I hadn’t heard of Michael’s book on Lebanese Wine Making so many thanks for mentioning it. I have ordered a copy from Amazon!
On June 16, 2010 at 5:57 am
Barbara says:
What a marvelous meal, Joumana! You look like you are in good foodie company too.
I love the idea of a black bean stir fry and the eggplant mousse. Tawlet’s food looks scrumptious!
On June 16, 2010 at 6:24 am
Mari's Cakes says:
Wonderful recipes! I will stick around .
Have a great and blessed day!
On June 16, 2010 at 6:32 am
FOODESSA says:
Kibbeh stuffed with eggplant mousse…now, that got my attention!
Any chance you’ll be replicating this in your kitchen when you get back from vacation?
Massimo, must have felt like he was in a type of Italian style ‘Trattoria’…with such charm and amazingly prepared casual menu. Everything looks like I would be overly satisfied with myself for picking this place…lucky you for having authentic Lebanese food…and served to you no less ;o) A good break from your kitchen too!
Oh…how I wish to have been sitting right next to all of you ;o)
Flavourful wishes, Claudia
On June 16, 2010 at 6:50 am
Joumana says:
@Claudia: that is exactly what I am planning to do, and I am planning a trip and post a week on each one of the cooks/producers at Tawlet, with Kamal’s blessing! He will run the story on his site as well. Maybe next time, you can come to Lebanon!
On June 16, 2010 at 11:46 am
5 Star Foodie says:
Sounds like a terrific and fun place!
On June 16, 2010 at 8:05 am
kim says:
AYCD arak? Oh…you’re walking on dangerous ground, lol.
Now I want to visit Lebanon! 🙂
On June 16, 2010 at 8:16 am
Lentil Breakdown says:
Getting more and more jealous with each post!
On June 16, 2010 at 8:41 am
gourmandelise says:
Toutes ces choses présentes à table ont l’air délicieuses!!
On June 16, 2010 at 9:01 am
Hélène (Cannes) says:
Je vais suivre ces billets libanais avec grande attention ! Tu sais que nous avons beaucoup de libanais, à Cannes … Et de très bons restos … D’ailleurs, ce soir, on va déguster un bon mezze dans l’un de ces endroits bénis ! ;o)
Bises
Hélène
On June 16, 2010 at 12:13 pm
A Canadian Foodie says:
I have never seen anything like it. You look beautiful in the photo. The creamy soup – the meat on the salad – the pitcher – all unique. How I would love to be there one day…
🙂
Valerie
On June 16, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Jen_from_NJ says:
Everything looks absolutely amazing! I love the concept of this restaurant!
On June 16, 2010 at 2:18 pm
john smith says:
wow that looks good
On June 16, 2010 at 2:57 pm
SYLVIA says:
I am taking notes in my notebook book, and naming the title, Joumanas inspired favorites from Beirut, One day when I go to visit I know exactly where to go eat, drink and party with my tour book. BTW the kibbeh with eggplant mousse is very appealing.
On June 16, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Mimi says:
Looks like a fun place with great food.
Mimi
On June 16, 2010 at 10:26 pm
heni says:
Looks like you are having the best time! thanks for sharing with us!
On June 17, 2010 at 6:45 am
Sushma Mallya says:
good food, seems you had a great time…lovely pics..
On June 17, 2010 at 11:00 am
Patty Price says:
What a fun post, I love your photos and it looks like everyone is enjoying their delicious meal!
On June 17, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Ivy says:
Great food! I’d love to visit this restaurant one day.
On June 17, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Joy says:
Wow my mouth is watering … the food looks absolutely fabulous especially the ouze. Beautiful pictures 🙂
On June 17, 2010 at 10:59 pm
SUZANNE PACKER says:
Kamal, good morning. Are you interested in Lebanese chefs from New Zealand and Australia doing a celebrity dish in your restaurant.???? We will be in Lebanon from about 18th July till 30th August. I truly enjoyed the article written about your restaurant in Bourj hammoud – a place close to my heart and as a Kiwi, lived there many years ago. Your caring attitude towards preservation is also close to my heart, as a poet who has written much about Lebanon. Either way I hope to meet you whilst in Lebanon. Cheers Suzanne
On May 24, 2012 at 4:15 am
Sabine jabaji says:
We were here today with the Swedish staff, the food was great, bit the service was the best!
Thank you so much
We had a great journey
On May 31, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Joumana says:
@Sabine: Glad you had a good time!
On May 31, 2012 at 1:34 pm