BAYRUT, The Cookbook

BAYRŪT THE COOKBOOK, Hisham’s first book

– Published worldwide in October 2021

A stunning, authentic, and evocative cookbook on the food of Beirut – the heart of Lebanon.

Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, is an exhilarating, chaotic city with a tumultuous past yet a thriving, vibrant foodie reputation. Perfectly poised between the Middle East and the Mediterranean, Lebanese cuisine is hugely popular — famed for its varied and flavourful regional dishes that emphasise whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood.

Beirut’s ever-changing, often turbulent, heritage means that its food has evolved an exciting character of its own. In this book, Hisham Assaad shows you the best the city has to offer, with accessible, delicious recipes, ranging from the classics to more modern fare. He tells the story of a city with energy and diversity, of multiple cultures and traditions, with ever-popular street food, a thriving restaurant and café scene, and traditional family favourites handed down through generations. Learn to create lavish breakfast spreads, traditional Sunday feasts, fresh and vibrant salads, easy and nutritious suppers, or even a delectable afternoon tea with tempting perfumed sweets and delicacies.

With stunning food and travel photography, this book will transport you to the cultural melting pot that is Beirut — a city that excels at mouth-watering food.

“The energy, diversity and intoxicating food culture of Lebanon’s vibrant capital Beirut (aka, Bayrut), make it one of the most incredible cities in the Middle East. Famed for its varied, flavourful dishes that emphasize whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood, Beirut is a true foodies paradise.“

– EAT YOUR BOOKS

“Bayrūt” is worth reading for the introduction alone, an overview of Beirut’s place in history from the Bronze Age to today.

Readers will come away with a better understanding of how the city has thrived and suffered, learn why food preservation was important and remains a part of Lebanese cuisine, read about how what is often broadly thought of as Mediterranean food breaks down into specific regional dishes, and learn how economic hardship has bred innovation.

– Rebecca Holland, Forbes.com Contributor

This cookbook is a delight…
Hisham Assaad did an outstanding job with this work… Leafing through the pages, I found myself catapulted back in Beirut…
Hisham Assaad has a fine photographer’s eye and his shots deliver the essence of this city and its people.

What I also loved about this book is that it is such a cohesive work. The layout and book design, the food styling, the location shots, all of it works harmoniously to reflect the charm and allure of Beirut. I cannot imagine a better book showcasing my city.

– Joumana Accad