Lebanist by Kazbar brings the culinary heart of Lebanon to your dining table

Bring Lebanon to your table and order your next takeout from Lebanist by Kazbar. I did exactly that when I felt like a luxurious but healthy meal with a bunch of friends.

Covid re-directed many of us home. Restaurant buffs we used to be, today curtailed somewhat by restrictions. While it was a bummer initially, we started to enjoy the spoils of home - sitting around in comfy clothes with friends and family, chatting till the wee hours of the morning.

I thought of Lebanist by Kazbar as that was exactly the Lebanese culture I remembered. Tafadal, an invitation home even to strangers to share a warm meal and chat. Full of heart is what I know Lebanese people for, from the ones I knew in Sydney who were constantly hosting meals at their place.

Sharing plates too made the evening casual with friends dipping into whatever suited their palette at the time. I also have fuss-pot friends who don’t eat this and that. Well, everyone could choose the dishes they wanted and didn’t.

What inspired me to order in from Lebanist by Kazbar, a new cloud kitchen that has recently opened its doors to the Orchard neighbourhood, was their latest Lebanese Feast Kit. What a hoot it created when it arrived.

I ordered sides to start - Falafels, Spinach & Cheese Boreks and Sambousek with an add-on of cucumber yoghurt dip. These went brilliantly well with drinks. I also had the oven on ready to crisp up when these delights arrived. With all of my take-out orders I have always done this – small price to pay for an eventual outcome you will be thankful for!

Falafels one of my favourite starters is made from mashed chickpeas, onions, garlic, coriander and parsley. These are combined and rolled into rounds then fried. I ordered more for my wrap lunches during the week. With a bit of salad this made for a hearty lunch.

We also had the spinach borek with some yoghurt dip which was divine. Dumplings filled with spinach then fried. The cheese borek presented like a spring roll was another crispy snack which friends raved over. So good as a starter accompaniment to drinks.

Now that everyone had lined their tummies it was time to make them work. The LebanistFeast, a curated experience of the Lebanist food and culture, promised to be lots of fun, learning and full, satisfied tummies! A feast for the eyes as I opened the big box that came with a large centre mat designed with names of dishes and condiments.

We played a game of who could match all dishes to the mat in the shortest time. Seriously, my mind was racing around the number of games we could have played on this mat. But alas lovely smells emanated from the array of containers filled with goodies we were dying to devour.

This was a sensory-based experience filled with stunning visuals that made my tummy rumble. It was a build your own bowl experience with an easy 5-step process to follow.

Firstly, it’s all about that base. We had the choice of Mujadara, a classic comfort food of lentils and brown rice cooked with caramelized onions and herbs. An interesting fact to note is that Mujadara is an Arabic word that means “pockmarks”. Apparently lentils in rice looked like pockmarks – weird but I assure you totally scrumptious.

Another base available if you are not a rice fan or would like two options is the saffron quinoa with raisins. Always looking for leverage, I prefer quinoa as it is gluten-free, a whole grain carb as well as a protein. With so many good qualities why not zap three goodies in one bite? Everyone around the table made their choice and filled their plate with one, some having bigger eyes than tummies, took a serve of both.

The second step having decided on the base was to pile on the protein. Chicken shawarma one of my favourite styles of meat. Grilled on a vertical rottiserie as it turns and fat falls off. The meat is so tasty as it is marinated with Middle eastern spices mixed with parsley, ginger, onions and garlic. No wonder it remains so succulent. There was also the option of ordering a lamb shawarma for those not keen on chicken and falafels for vegetarians and falafel lovers.

We were on to step three – dippity dip. Hummus my absolute favourite dip, one I never tire of was velvety, made from scratch with tahini, lemon juice and garlic. I didn’t know this but it is low in saturated fat, high in fiber and protein. It is also a complex carbohydrate – no wonder I felt satiated whenever I had some.

Garlic spinach the other option was a big portion packed with spinach. With quinoa which was my choice, this spinach went brilliantly well. A fusion of flavor that blended together! My plate was building up as was my appetite. Moutabel and baba ganoush were available too for those who prefer an eggplant fix.

Step four brought on tip-top toppings. De-skinned chickpeas, crispy onions and pomegranate, all of which made for excellent combinations for everyone however you chose. This was a Lebanese thing – big on spices and seasoning making food taste fresh, hearty and flavourful.

I could not order everything as there were so many options – croutons, feta cheese, Lebanese green olives, cashew nuts, black olives. You can see as you build your own bowl it really is in the hands of the family to decide what their preferences are.

Last but not least the saucy finale – harissa and toum. Even the colour of harissa, a deep red was so appetizing. A common dish in different ethnic communities, it is usually cooked in a big pot on religious occasions. Made from roasted red peppers, spices and herbs this was one spicy number. Spice lovers, this is equivalent to sambal. I added a dob to my plate.

Toum, a garlic sauce light and rich made from an emulsion of garlic and oil goes well with meats and grains. A final dob on my plate and I was ready for the big meal. As we took photos of each other’s plates, it was wonderful to see how each person’s preference showed up on their plate. Same ingredients different combinations!

Lemon oregano dressing, tahini, pomegranate dressing, harissa mayo, vinaigrette dressing all up for orders if you fancy more.

As the ooh and aah sounds came out of each friend, it was testimony of how delicious the meal was. A smorgasbord of flavours bursting in my mouth made for such a rich meal, truly second to none. Needless to say we had seconds and finished every pack on the mat.

If you would prefer a Signature Bowl where choices are made for you then the Singapore Sling, Green Bowl and Chef’s Choice are available too. I do know some friends who would do this rather than the “pick your own condiments” option.

It was good to note that while we were totally satiated, the infamous Baklava was awaiting! We had to complete with this layered filo-pastry dessert filled with chopped nuts, sweetened with syrup or honey. At Lebanist this decadent treat was not overly sweet, just my style. Imported directly from Lebanon for the most authentic flavor too.

There are other treats on the menu too. If you would like a shawarma  or wrap all put together there are chicken or lamb options. Falafel wraps are an option for non-meat lovers. Make sure to do a quick zing in the oven when you order in to give it that warm and toasty touch.

And why not order a Fattoush salad to go with that? Accompanied by a pomegranate dressing this uplifting touch would certainly add colour to your experience. After all, Lebanist specializes in creating premium, healthy and hearty food so might as well!

Connect with them on Instagram @lebanist or at http://www.lebanist.com. Available on all major food delivery platforms – Deliveroo, Food Panda, Oddle and Grab too.

Lebanist are driven by a simple philosophy – a desire to keep you well nourished by feeding your body, mind, soul and conscience. Where food is a matter of pride, you can see now why Lebanist creates food that reaches into the deepest experience you could have.