Today I met a man, actually, maybe an encyclopedia, a force of positive energy, a lover of life, who welcomed me as if we were friends of twenty years. Abou Bashir, standing behind the counter, living his life around his fruit, wanted to offer me a special mix.
Located down in Ashrafieh, a few meters from Boubouffe, facing the Radio Mont Liban building, sits Asab Sekar (Sugarcane in English), a shop that prepares juices, crepes and has an ice cream machine. The sign made me want to stop, intrigued about the hidden wonders inside.
"Ahla wa sahla, Kifak, shou mna3tik lyom?... Ahhhh sobbėr gher shekel?" shaking my hand firmly... And there I was, drinking the first cup of prickly pear juice. A cup of juice, mixed with some crushed ice sells for only LBP4,000. A juice, full of flavor, where I really felt the essence of my favorite fruit.
Enter the shop and be transported into the Amazon rainforest. A strong aroma takes you by storm as you walk through this paradise of fruits. To the left is the open fridge, while Abou Bashir stands in front of the other fridge filled with pealed fruits, sitting ready to be mixed. Behind the bar is a long list of drinks divided into sections according to the desired result: Energy, Immunity, Balance and Beauty.
I had to leave, but Abou Bashir insisted on serving me his special mix, a secret one. So I left for ten minutes, accompanying my wife to where she was meeting friends, and came running back for this special concoction, and I'm glad I did so... I learned a lot in here.
Khaltat Abou Bashir el Sehriyé: Prickly pears, mango, bananas, peach, apples, oranges and many other hidden wonders. A cup rich in vitamins and mouthwatering flavors, all perfectly equilibrated to give you a drink that you'll sip slowly and smoothly, to make it last as long as possible. I should have discovered this place before now, a place were the Beiruty spirit haunts the walls of this tiny shop, a shop of positive energy and smiles.
"That's the mix to solve all health problems. Drink, my son, drink, you will feel better in no time." I couldn't but say to myself how special this man was, how lucky I was to have passed by the shop. While looking around and enjoying my time, Abou Bashir insisted on telling me about his past, the good old days, Beirut and the downtown area... "You remember Al Boroj? or course you don't but ask your parents, I've started there". Let me tell you a secret, he continues, you know that I'm the sole inventor of the "cocktail She2af everyone does today around town, yes, I did invent it. Not only that, but the avocado cocktail, you know this green buttery mix, I did invent it as well.
"So today, I had the chance to meet the claimed inventor of the fruit cocktail"
Not only that, but the shop has crepes as well. To be honest, I was not expecting them to be great, the focus was obviously on the fruit, but why not try it? I had heard that the pizza crepe was the best seller. The pizza crepe is not to be missed... A great dough, not too sweet, not too thin, not too chewy but balanced on all fronts and filled with pizza ingredients. Cheese, ham, mushrooms and oregano with ketchup. A generously filled crepe with thick layers of melted cheese, warm ham and large, canned mushrooms topped with a sprinkle of oregano. For only LBP7,000, you will experience the flavors of America on a plate, delicious flavors that put a smile on my face. Bravo!
I was amazed, if I may say. Amazed by Abou Bashir, enchanted by the tasty cocktails of this small little shop, down in Ashrafieh, welcoming you all day, with no pretension, no logos, no marketing, and only really fresh quality to talk about. But then, that’s all you need.
I would pass by Asab Sekar if I were you and soon!
