Sharing is encoraged at Lebnani BELOW: Fresh tabouli with parsley, mint, tomato, onion, olive oil, lemon juice, and bulgar wheat
Lebanese chef Jad Youssef tells Simone Hellyer about plans to showcase the flavours of his Beirut home at his new Reigate restaurant, Lebnani
The vibrant flavours of Lebanon are set to come to Reigate this February with the opening of new restaurant Lebnani. The restaurant, located on Church Street, is the brainchild of Beirutborn executive chef, Jad Youssef, who also founded London-based Lebanese street food restaurant Yalla Yalla.
Between helping his mother make home-cooked meals and assisting his father at work in his pastry shop, Youssef grew up in the kitchen and says it is his mission to share his Lebanese cooking heritage around the world. “Food culture was massive in my family,” he says. “I’ve always adored my mum’s kitchen in our Beirut home, it is a place where I have learnt the key insights of Lebanese food. Beirut home is part of me, it goes wherever I go.”
After completing his culinary training in Beirut, Youssef embarked on a restaurant career that saw him working in top kitchens around Europe. He opened Yalla Yalla in 2008 and his rustic Lebanese and Middle East flavours gained praise from Time Out London, which named his dish Sawda Djej (chicken liver in pomegranate molasses) as one of its ‘Best 100 Dishes in London’. He has also appeared as an expert judge on Celebrity MasterChef.
On why he chose to open Lebnani in Reigate, Jad says: “Lebanese food outside London is not in full blossom yet, and the idea of developing and popularising Lebanese cuisine here was the key factor for me.”
The menu will focus on authentic Lebanese dishes such as, Arnabit (roasted cauliflower with tahini, harissa and sumac labné), Beirut Fattoush Salad (Romaine lettuce, vine tomato, radish, red onion, mint, pomegranate dressing, sumac tossed khobez pitta) and Roasted Beef Shawarma (marinated with Baharat and served with sumac tatbila salad and tahini).
“I believe in fresh ingredients, and in food made by people with love,” Jad adds. “Our ethos is all about authentic classic Lebanese dishes simply cooked using the best locally sourced ingredients to suit all tastes.”
The flavours may be exotic, but Jad promises many of the ingredients on Lebnani’s menu will be sourced locally: “We only use the finest ingredients; spices, herbs and grains are imported directly from Lebanon and our meat is sourced responsibly from local farms in Surrey and Sussex.”
When asked what his favourite dish on the menu was, Jad wouldn’t be drawn: “I won’t tell you my favourite dish since I love the idea of sharing mezze. A variety of flavourful hot and cold dishes lets you enjoy all the flavours and is a real treat everyone should have.”
Originally published: https://www.pressreader.com/uk/surrey-life/20200122/282651804440633