Breakfast in Tyre, there aren’t many options and what’s there is known by all. The famous Baroud, or Mazraani, both offer a premium quality prepared with love and dedication. After visiting Baroud last year, I was back for the tasty local street breakfast and this time met Mr. Mazraani and his son, who have been producing these awesome plates since 1968. Ali, the founder, still comes to work, making sure his son Houssein follows in his footsteps.
In the old souk of Tyre (Sur) in south Lebanon, located a one minute walk from the fishermen’s port, is the famous Mazraani: An authentic breakfast spot that opens from 02:30am until 11am and serves only the best Foul, Hummus (na3em) and Msabbaha (Fava beans and Chickpeas). This culinary journey starts few meters away from the shop, as you approach Baroud, attracted by the rich, mouthwatering aromas of cooked peas.
In the restaurant is one cooking station divided into two areas: The Foul station where mixes are prepared in large stainless steel jars and maintained on a low fire and the hummus station where chickpeas and tahini are mixed. With every order, they offer you a plate of vegetables (tomatoes, thyme, onions, beetroot and lemon) and a unique plate of chili peppers. That is all you need to enjoy and appreciate what can look like a heavy breakfast... It wasn’t actually heavy, it was tasty and perfectly prepared and I continued my day smoothly.
The prices:
- Foul LBP3,500
- Msabb7a LBP3,500
- Hummus LBP3,500
More info about the three items they serve:
- Foul Mudammas: Alternate spellings include ful medames or ful mudammas, or simply foul. Foul Mudammas is an Egyptian/Sudanese dish of cooked and mashed fava beans served with olive oil, chopped parsley, onion, garlic, and lemon juice. A staple meal in Egypt and Sudan, it is popular in the cuisines of the Levant.
- Msabbaha: A Middle Eastern chickpea platter. This dish is heavily inspired by a love of hummus, and is in fact so close to it, it shares all of its ingredients, including hummus! Unlike hummus, it is served hot or warm. Though it doesn't share the former's popularity, it is well loved where it can be found.
- Hummus with Tahini: A Levantine Arab food dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. Today, it is popular throughout the Middle East and in Middle Eastern cuisine around the globe.
Everything was exceptional. The hummus is one of the finest I’ve ever had in my life. Smooth hummus that melts like butter under your palate. The Foul was strong in flavor, with aromas that caressed my nostrils. The Mousabba7a, served warm, was simply exceptional. Served with fresh bread, a la minute, all the dishes are served hot, and with a street ambiance in the heart of one of the world's oldest cities… A must try!
Just remember that every plate needs 15 hours to prepare. Enjoy it calmly with a smile on your face.
