WEBVTT 00:00:14.534 --> 00:00:16.677 It was a bread bakery and it became a Manakish bakery. 00:00:25.663 --> 00:00:29.333 Hello Anthony, how are you? Good? I hope so, happy holidays. 00:00:31.041 --> 00:00:34.553 You are at Chafik Bou Assali Bakery in Qob Elias. 00:00:35.430 --> 00:00:38.013 This is a thyme Manoucheh. We are making it now. 00:00:38.013 --> 00:00:39.389 This is a mixed Manoucheh. 00:00:40.675 --> 00:00:45.911 Mhammara Manoucheh. This bakery has been here since 1958. 00:00:46.523 --> 00:00:47.763 Since the times of my late father. 00:00:49.287 --> 00:00:54.820 First, it was a bread bakery. Then it became a Manakish and pastry bakery in 1965. 00:00:55.201 --> 00:00:58.111 Good morning. Good morning Anthony, welcome to Qob Elias. 00:00:58.111 --> 00:00:59.214 We're happy that you're here. 00:01:00.606 --> 00:01:04.606 We're happy that you're here and we are recording the oldest things present in Qob Elias 00:01:04.606 --> 00:01:07.633 and we allow people to know Qob Elias, and the beauty of the village and the area. 00:01:07.633 --> 00:01:10.510 So we're on. Ahmad, tell me about you. 00:01:10.908 --> 00:01:14.967 Thank God, good. I've been here for almost a year and a month. 00:01:15.365 --> 00:01:19.365 From Canada. I liked to come and see Lebanon, and get my kids to Lebanon. 00:01:19.365 --> 00:01:23.365 Because Lebanon is the most beautiful country in the world. I follow you a lot. 00:01:23.365 --> 00:01:27.365 Because you excited us to come to Lebanon, and i've been here for a year and a month. 00:01:27.365 --> 00:01:31.365 I am working in Lebanon. We have about 6 stops today. 00:01:31.365 --> 00:01:34.635 We will see the oldest bakery in Qob Elias and in the area. 00:01:35.107 --> 00:01:41.883 We will see another bakery for one of the most charismatic people in Qob Elias. 00:01:42.737 --> 00:01:46.188 We will see the largest vegetable market in the area, in the Middle East. 00:01:46.565 --> 00:01:53.175 We will see Domaine de Chouchene because it is very amazing, Anthony, you're going to love it. 00:02:07.568 --> 00:02:10.923 We will start with the thyme Manoucheh. Soft soft soft. 00:02:11.431 --> 00:02:12.481 Large and filling. 00:02:16.123 --> 00:02:18.603 I loved it a lot. Maximum soft. 00:02:19.006 --> 00:02:21.696 Filling, generous, the thyme is good. 00:02:23.498 --> 00:02:25.748 It is not chewy. Very fluffy. 00:02:26.773 --> 00:02:28.493 The dough is properly soaked with oil. 00:02:31.434 --> 00:02:32.034 Great start. 00:02:33.726 --> 00:02:34.626 Then they have this. 00:02:35.353 --> 00:02:36.713 What is this! About a kilogram. 00:02:37.237 --> 00:02:38.207 3 kinds of cheese. 00:02:39.366 --> 00:02:39.962 A mix. 00:02:42.795 --> 00:02:43.385 Wow. 00:02:45.067 --> 00:02:46.683 That is something. 00:02:48.204 --> 00:02:49.274 Super something. 00:02:51.676 --> 00:02:52.376 All these. 00:02:54.915 --> 00:02:56.530 Enjoy enjoy. 00:03:02.158 --> 00:03:04.158 This is a big thing. 00:03:31.429 --> 00:03:34.429 Abou Alaa Bakery. You're close to my heart, I respect you. 00:03:34.429 --> 00:03:35.739 All kinds of Manakish. 00:03:36.618 --> 00:03:38.288 Welcome. You're close to my heart. 00:03:39.309 --> 00:03:43.309 Yes, I've been in this business for 50 years. Specifically in this place, I've been for 17 years. 00:03:47.935 --> 00:03:51.935 This is the thyme. The bakery is related to thyme, they initially say, a thyme bakery. 00:03:52.882 --> 00:03:57.722 Then, the other kinds come. But originally, they say that this bakery is a thyme bakery. 00:06:24.208 --> 00:06:25.865 You're welcome a hundred times. 00:06:27.913 --> 00:06:29.378 One for me and one for you. 00:06:29.715 --> 00:06:32.852 The Manoucheh is wrapped like a sandwich, like a school sandwich. 00:06:38.310 --> 00:06:39.337 You have to try it. 00:06:41.308 --> 00:06:42.178 Super soft. 00:06:48.768 --> 00:06:51.161 Super smooth. Super simple. 00:06:52.231 --> 00:06:54.871 Light and clean, delicious, uncomplicated. 00:06:56.437 --> 00:06:57.347 Comforting. 00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:02.460 Unbelievable. 00:07:08.251 --> 00:07:09.231 I memorized the location. 00:07:14.746 --> 00:07:16.679 For sure I'm coming back. Let me go inside to tell him thank you and bravo. 00:07:48.218 --> 00:07:54.172 We are at Qob Elias Central Vegetable Market. Now, I work as a guard in this market. 00:07:54.351 --> 00:07:58.351 I am responsable for the market and now I will take you to 00:07:58.940 --> 00:08:01.659 Sheikh Wajih Al Amoury, he will tell you more about the topic. 00:08:09.789 --> 00:08:11.981 This vegetable market was established in 1997. 00:08:13.604 --> 00:08:17.214 A group of traders, in agreement with the municipality, made this market 00:08:17.214 --> 00:08:22.152 with effort and energy and it is from the best Lebanese markets 00:08:22.378 --> 00:08:24.328 and from the most organized Lebanese markets. 00:08:25.091 --> 00:08:30.521 The market is made up of 121 garages or doors, 00:08:31.186 --> 00:08:33.246 and about 60 corporations are there. 00:08:35.066 --> 00:08:40.408 This market, almost all production of Al Bekaa, 00:08:41.268 --> 00:08:42.428 comes to this market. 00:08:43.429 --> 00:08:47.999 The market during summer, all Lebanese markets come take from this market. 00:08:49.644 --> 00:08:53.978 Even for traveling and exporting, this market gives the products. 00:08:53.978 --> 00:08:55.382 Traders sell everything in this market. 00:08:55.982 --> 00:08:56.542 It is organized. 00:08:57.251 --> 00:09:00.065 There is a committee or union for this market. 00:09:00.065 --> 00:09:04.585 There is another market in Ferzol. It is parallel to Al Bekaa market, but our market is bigger. 00:09:05.696 --> 00:09:07.833 It can fit more amount of products. 00:09:35.005 --> 00:09:37.857 Just come and fill your sight with colors. 00:09:38.438 --> 00:09:40.348 From a place to a place to a place. 00:09:40.678 --> 00:09:43.143 All kinds of vegetables. Very good condition and very clean. 00:09:43.143 --> 00:09:46.651 Some are in plastic boxes, or carton boxes, or bags. 00:09:47.115 --> 00:09:51.765 You can find all what you need in very good prices. 00:09:52.182 --> 00:09:56.182 As you can see, the organization, cleanliness, calmness, there is no shouting. 00:09:56.597 --> 00:09:57.447 I was not expecting that. 00:09:58.289 --> 00:09:58.739 Very nice. 00:09:59.179 --> 00:10:01.633 It is the biggest in the Middle East, and I have not came to here before. 00:10:02.526 --> 00:10:02.936 Oops. 00:10:16.214 --> 00:10:18.707 Very very professional. Very professional. 00:10:18.707 --> 00:10:21.319 Impressive. And I am still walking and I do not feel like stopping. 00:10:21.746 --> 00:10:25.746 From a place to a place to a place, there is not a tiny bit of trash on the floor. 00:10:26.263 --> 00:10:30.263 Our prices here are very good, package prices. Our products are very clean, 00:10:30.263 --> 00:10:33.668 products with clean water, most of it is clean water, artesian. 00:11:17.110 --> 00:11:18.340 Qob Elias products. 00:12:14.301 --> 00:12:17.266 Look, there is a very old Sun Temple. 00:12:17.266 --> 00:12:20.117 Of course, we will go there later on and talk about it. 00:12:20.117 --> 00:12:21.417 If you want to capture it from here, the picture would look very nice. 00:12:23.103 --> 00:12:26.307 How many of you did know that there is a Sun Temple in Qob Elias? 00:12:26.562 --> 00:12:27.492 We pass through this road 00:12:28.390 --> 00:12:32.751 always, we all pass through this road. We all go all the way 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:37.000 to a beautiful area called Ammiq. Did we ever look to the right at this mountain? 00:12:37.604 --> 00:12:39.844 A temple, they say that it has been here for more than 6,000 years. 00:12:40.895 --> 00:12:43.275 Wow, we will go and see it together later on. 00:12:45.007 --> 00:12:48.493 So next, after the vegetables market, I will take you to my uncle, who is the eldest mayor in the village. 00:12:48.493 --> 00:12:49.993 Mahyidinne Toufic Hatoum. 00:12:52.512 --> 00:12:55.462 I have been a mayor since 1985. 00:12:56.898 --> 00:12:57.258 Yes. 00:12:58.199 --> 00:13:00.859 And in the village, there are almost 00:13:01.669 --> 00:13:04.079 70,000 person. 00:13:04.825 --> 00:13:09.435 Its history is very old. Its history, there's Haidar remains, as they call it. 00:13:10.115 --> 00:13:12.425 This dates back to the Romans era. 00:13:13.081 --> 00:13:14.221 And maybe the Phoenicians. 00:13:14.762 --> 00:13:18.453 It was more beautiful than that and nicer than that. 00:13:19.095 --> 00:13:23.409 When the sun rises in the morning, it hits, we had the schools place, 00:13:23.975 --> 00:13:26.847 there was all yards, decorated as they call it. 00:13:27.517 --> 00:13:30.073 There were no buildings or schools or anything, 00:13:30.584 --> 00:13:32.860 there was the Sun Temple, as they call it. 00:13:33.603 --> 00:13:38.509 Tal El Akhdar boarders it from here. the south, Tal El Akhdar, and Ammiq. 00:13:39.456 --> 00:13:41.366 Tal El Akhdar belongs to Qob Elias. 00:13:42.138 --> 00:13:43.808 But Ammiq belongs to west Bekaa. 00:13:44.553 --> 00:13:47.413 From the east, El Marj village. 00:13:48.376 --> 00:13:53.548 And from the south, I mean the north, Chtoura. 00:13:56.231 --> 00:14:01.331 And from the west, the mountain and then Ain Dara. 00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:18.029 Lots of history. Lots to cover. 00:14:18.737 --> 00:14:20.667 Of course, Qob Elias is rich with history, as you can see. 00:14:21.280 --> 00:14:23.297 And almost all civilizations passed through Qob Elias. 00:14:24.253 --> 00:14:27.569 Of course, because it exists on both sides of the river. 00:14:27.569 --> 00:14:29.865 So a side was Mrayjet and a side was Qob Elias. 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:32.580 Now, all of it is Qob Elias. 00:14:44.328 --> 00:14:46.735 We reached Ras El Ain area which very famous here. 00:14:46.930 --> 00:14:51.748 Where water starts. We are seeing around us iron pipes left and right. 00:14:52.023 --> 00:14:54.853 Unfortunately, they're damaged. Now we were talking about this topic, 00:14:54.853 --> 00:14:59.475 that there was a water station, a power station but it stopped from a long time ago. 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:02.083 So the pipes rusted and started to break. 00:15:02.665 --> 00:15:07.500 Nice walk, I can tell you that the walk is very nice. We can go forwards for more than 20 minutes and see 00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:12.200 where the river starts. But they are waiting for us in the village, and I started to feel hungry. 00:15:35.078 --> 00:15:40.591 Good morning. Good morning. How are you? How are you? Welcome. Good. 00:15:40.591 --> 00:15:43.731 Hello. Hello. How are you? God bless you. 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:47.473 The table and the smell in your house, it's crazy. 00:15:47.848 --> 00:15:53.905 Hiam Alaaeddine from Qob Elias. I've been working for 10 years with Mouneh and 00:15:53.905 --> 00:15:56.688 Arabic food as well as foreign food. 00:15:57.551 --> 00:16:05.114 Stuffed vine leaves, Coxinha, Empanada, Empanada Con Pino, chicken croquettes, 00:16:06.008 --> 00:16:11.238 Tabouli, different kinds of pumpkin Kebbeh with all stuffing, potato Kebbeh, 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:16.649 everything you need is found here. This is Tabouli with village parsley 00:16:16.649 --> 00:16:18.345 also with olive oil. 00:16:20.770 --> 00:16:22.900 Lemon is also from the mountains. 00:16:29.060 --> 00:16:29.900 Tell us about catering. 00:16:31.795 --> 00:16:35.468 I work from home. I've been for almost 8 years. 00:16:37.549 --> 00:16:40.869 I developed my work, I work with NGOs, I participate. 00:16:42.224 --> 00:16:47.164 Now I am still developing. I am learning and doing everything new. 00:16:48.603 --> 00:16:53.486 Stuffed vine leaves with oil. As they say, the leaves are from village. 00:16:53.686 --> 00:16:57.686 I make everything, I get them during season and cut them, sort and organize them, 00:16:57.686 --> 00:17:01.526 and I press them and keep them ready for when there is an order. 00:17:11.030 --> 00:17:11.490 Wow. 00:17:12.116 --> 00:17:14.787 No, the food is very nice. 00:17:17.576 --> 00:17:18.356 Finally, 00:17:23.741 --> 00:17:28.651 as it should be. Passion of home, taste of home, the perfect flavors. 00:17:29.282 --> 00:17:32.338 The Tabouli has perfect lemon, it pinches a bit. 00:17:33.458 --> 00:17:35.953 The oil is exact. Fresh ingredients. 00:17:39.376 --> 00:17:39.976 Perfect. 00:17:44.104 --> 00:17:44.624 Perfect. 00:17:46.490 --> 00:17:47.830 Your food is amazing. 00:17:48.612 --> 00:17:52.001 There are still these? They became red, we forgot them. 00:17:52.001 --> 00:17:54.681 Let me exchange them. Amazing amazing amazing, 00:17:54.927 --> 00:17:59.877 Enjoy enjoy, welcome. I hope the better and nicer will happen. 00:18:00.317 --> 00:18:00.875 And the more delicious. 00:18:01.091 --> 00:18:02.911 Wow. Impressive. 00:18:03.284 --> 00:18:06.834 I thought that I am done, and I said no, I want to have some bites without eating a lot. 00:18:07.207 --> 00:18:10.657 But the potato Kebbeh stuffed with meat. You're having it with Labneh, yes? 00:18:11.091 --> 00:18:11.841 Impressive. 00:18:12.427 --> 00:18:18.447 The crisp on the outside, flakiness, craziness. It's super juicy on the inside and extremely flavorful. 00:18:19.396 --> 00:18:22.605 Put everything aside, there is an obvious passion. 00:19:26.202 --> 00:19:29.374 Welcome. We're waiting for you wherever you are, in Lebanon and the world. 00:19:29.374 --> 00:19:30.224 Come visit us. 00:19:50.381 --> 00:19:52.343 Welcome guys. God bless you. 00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:58.429 We've been here since 1982. 00:20:00.639 --> 00:20:01.879 We work with cheeses and Labneh. 00:20:03.731 --> 00:20:07.881 Labneh, cheese, Halloum, double cream, Akkawi, Baladi. 00:20:08.962 --> 00:20:09.912 It is all natural milk. 00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:14.469 There is a proper boiler. It becomes frothy in 30 mins. 00:20:16.025 --> 00:20:18.647 We take it for making yogurt or cheese. 00:20:19.456 --> 00:20:21.246 They are on the tables. 00:20:22.032 --> 00:20:23.182 Cheese on the tables. 00:20:24.125 --> 00:20:27.075 We press it by the press. Here, this cheese is pressed. 00:20:29.044 --> 00:20:30.334 This is pressed by the press. 00:20:31.889 --> 00:20:34.872 We put a specific amount of salt and we pack it in boxes and cans, 00:20:35.782 --> 00:20:38.122 in salty water. Everything is 100% naturally made on the old way. 00:20:38.122 --> 00:20:43.713 There isn't any preservatives or powder or starch or any artificial materials. 00:20:44.134 --> 00:20:47.094 As the milk comes, we work with it, and we put it, 00:20:47.094 --> 00:20:50.248 we don't soak it, and cheese is put in cans, as it is. 00:21:14.868 --> 00:21:19.616 Good morning. Good morning, welcome. Welcome welcome. Chateau Heritage. 00:21:20.317 --> 00:21:24.787 About Qob Elias, I have to tell you, I am the ex mayor. 00:21:25.178 --> 00:21:28.838 I used to say, it's the capital of the world and the center of the universe. 00:21:29.465 --> 00:21:34.827 So now, Chateau Heritage is the capital of the world and the center of the universe. Welcome. 00:21:35.231 --> 00:21:36.771 It's an honor to have you. 00:21:37.238 --> 00:21:41.238 Thank you. First, congratulations for the new award. 00:21:41.238 --> 00:21:44.575 You're a pride to this nation. 00:21:45.207 --> 00:21:46.507 Thank you. Welcome. Thank you. 00:21:47.326 --> 00:21:51.876 The square is very nice, as if it is Hacienda. As if it is a place for horses, 00:21:51.876 --> 00:21:55.876 as if we traveled to Portugal or Spain, and we are in the center of Lebanon. 00:21:56.025 --> 00:21:57.605 You enter from a door to another. 00:21:58.033 --> 00:22:02.433 Originally, from the entrance, the atmosphere and the vibes are amazing, 00:22:03.602 --> 00:22:04.322 Chateau Heritage 00:22:05.546 --> 00:22:09.638 Let's tour and see what do they have. It's an old school built in 1927. 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:14.235 This is actually the courtyard. The classes were here. They come to the courtyard. 00:22:15.043 --> 00:22:19.396 So when we bought it, it was utterly destroyed by the war. 00:22:19.899 --> 00:22:23.339 It passed in phases where it was a chicken and cow farm at one time, 00:22:23.636 --> 00:22:28.616 a carton factory at another time, but when we bought it, it was completely damaged. 00:22:28.616 --> 00:22:32.436 It had many bullets and bombs. 00:22:33.074 --> 00:22:39.634 So we refurbished and adapted it to become a winery. 00:22:40.161 --> 00:22:45.071 We are the sons of Elias Touma. One of the founders of Arak Touma. 00:22:45.887 --> 00:22:51.757 So we are fourth generation wine makers. I went to the states and studied 00:22:51.757 --> 00:22:53.064 chemical engineer. 00:22:53.738 --> 00:22:57.211 The masters in indology, PhD in food and beverage science. 00:22:57.211 --> 00:23:01.581 So my friends call me Dr. D, Dr. Dargham. So it's Dr. D. 00:23:03.482 --> 00:23:04.472 What else do we tell you? 00:23:04.942 --> 00:23:08.264 When I started here it was a very primitive operation. 00:23:09.258 --> 00:23:13.966 Now, the vats that you are seeing are imported vats. 00:23:14.608 --> 00:23:17.572 It's for show and pictures. You know, like a portrait. 00:23:17.572 --> 00:23:20.602 But in the rest of the winery there are vats that I've done myself. 00:23:20.602 --> 00:23:23.009 I've welded myself, I've done myself. 00:23:24.703 --> 00:23:27.814 They are called, you know, colt of the business, they do everything. 00:23:28.498 --> 00:23:33.588 So Chateau Heritage was founded in 1997. That's when I came back from the states. 00:23:33.818 --> 00:23:35.448 I started working in 1997. 00:23:35.867 --> 00:23:39.597 2 years prior, we made wine. 00:23:40.192 --> 00:23:42.462 88 and 91, now we will show you what are they. 00:23:43.357 --> 00:23:48.397 And it is a family business. My siblings and I, 00:23:48.397 --> 00:23:49.845 it is a family operation. 00:23:50.247 --> 00:23:53.717 May my father rest in peace, he was a big part of the business, 00:23:53.717 --> 00:23:55.097 he died 4-5 years ago. 00:23:58.105 --> 00:24:02.285 The patron saint, all wineries of the world have a patron saint. 00:24:03.510 --> 00:24:07.510 Because sometimes you do the science to the maximum, a time comes, 00:24:07.598 --> 00:24:11.598 things mess up. You have to refer to a higher power, so 00:24:11.598 --> 00:24:17.736 we light candles and such things. Patron saint of out winery is St. Elias, in honor of our father. 00:25:00.033 --> 00:25:05.554 This is 1 of 2 sellers of wine. Now we'll go up there to the second. 00:25:06.811 --> 00:25:08.937 This is where wine comes to be aged. 00:25:10.520 --> 00:25:13.330 I'm not a humongous fan of oak. 00:25:14.183 --> 00:25:20.383 Because it covers, it masks the smells and fruits of the wine. 00:25:20.689 --> 00:25:27.877 But nonetheless, some wines need oak, and we, personally I am American educated, 00:25:28.712 --> 00:25:34.163 but to be honest, I tried French oak, what I found to be the best for Lebanese 00:25:36.401 --> 00:25:38.447 tannins and weather and things 00:25:39.173 --> 00:25:42.139 is American oak. Because when I started using that, 00:25:43.524 --> 00:25:48.140 ever since, I'm winning best Lebanese wine in the world consecutively every year. 00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:49.545 Both in Bordeaux and elsewhere. 00:25:50.101 --> 00:25:54.421 And to commemorate you winning the award, now up there. Thank you so much. 00:25:55.606 --> 00:25:58.831 We took it from here, it has mold which is okay. 00:25:58.831 --> 00:26:05.707 This is the 2003 which has won about 6 golden awards all over the world 00:26:06.185 --> 00:26:08.100 including best Lebanese wine. 00:26:08.564 --> 00:26:13.840 You don't drink these being careless. After the car trip, 00:26:14.378 --> 00:26:18.718 you have to leave it for about 10 days because it's going to shake. 00:26:19.293 --> 00:26:24.316 And you open the other one on a very nice occasion. 00:26:25.141 --> 00:26:29.141 But in both cases, you should decant them. 00:26:29.490 --> 00:26:34.475 Please, because I am not teaching you, but it's for the info. 00:26:35.021 --> 00:26:38.487 Second, for it to have oxygen and stretch. 00:26:38.954 --> 00:26:41.444 This has been stuck in the bottle for 30 years. 00:26:41.806 --> 00:26:43.026 So it needs stretching. 00:26:43.358 --> 00:26:44.948 Give it some oxygen to stretch. 00:26:45.310 --> 00:26:49.310 How great.