Qob Elias: A Historical Village in the Heart of the Bekaa. "History, Farmers Market, Wineries"

It was a bread bakery
and it became a Manakish bakery.

Hello Anthony, how are you?
Good? I hope so, happy holidays.

You are at Chafik Bou Assali Bakery
in Qob Elias.

This is a thyme Manoucheh.
We are making it now.

This is a mixed Manoucheh.

Mhammara Manoucheh.
This bakery has been here since 1958.

Since the times of my late father.

First, it was a bread bakery.
Then it became a Manakish and pastry bakery in 1965.

Good morning.
Good morning Anthony, welcome to Qob Elias.

We're happy that you're here.

We're happy that you're here and we
are recording the oldest things present in Qob Elias

and we allow people to know Qob Elias,
and the beauty of the village and the area.

So we're on.
Ahmad, tell me about you.

Thank God, good.
I've been here for almost a year and a month.

From Canada. I liked to come and see Lebanon, and get my kids to Lebanon.

Because Lebanon is the most beautiful
country in the world. I follow you a lot.

Because you excited us to come to Lebanon,
and i've been here for a year and a month.

I am working in Lebanon.
We have about 6 stops today.

We will see the oldest bakery in Qob Elias
and in the area.

We will see another bakery for one of
the most charismatic people in Qob Elias.

We will see the largest vegetable market
in the area, in the Middle East.

We will see Domaine de Chouchene because it is very amazing, Anthony, you're going to love it.

We will start with the thyme Manoucheh.
Soft soft soft.

Large and filling.

I loved it a lot.
Maximum soft.

Filling, generous,
the thyme is good.

It is not chewy.
Very fluffy.

The dough is properly soaked
with oil.

Great start.

Then they have this.

What is this! About a kilogram.

3 kinds of cheese.

A mix.

Wow.

That is something.

Super something.

All these.

Enjoy enjoy.

This is a big thing.

Abou Alaa Bakery.
You're close to my heart, I respect you.

All kinds of Manakish.

Welcome.
You're close to my heart.

Yes, I've been in this business for 50 years.
Specifically in this place, I've been for 17 years.

This is the thyme. The bakery is related to thyme,
they initially say, a thyme bakery.

Then, the other kinds come. But originally,
they say that this bakery is a thyme bakery.

You're welcome a hundred times.

One for me and one for you.

The Manoucheh is wrapped like
a sandwich, like a school sandwich.

You have to try it.

Super soft.

Super smooth.
Super simple.

Light and clean, delicious,
uncomplicated.

Comforting.

Unbelievable.

I memorized the location.

For sure I'm coming back.
Let me go inside to tell him thank you and bravo.

We are at Qob Elias Central Vegetable Market.
Now, I work as a guard in this market.

I am responsable for the market and now
I will take you to

Sheikh Wajih Al Amoury,
he will tell you more about the topic.

This vegetable market was established
in 1997.

A group of traders, in agreement
with the municipality, made this market

with effort and energy and it is from
the best Lebanese markets

and from the most organized Lebanese markets.

The market is made up of 121 garages
or doors,

and about 60 corporations are there.

This market, almost all production
of Al Bekaa,

comes to this market.

The market during summer,
all Lebanese markets come take from this market.

Even for traveling and exporting,
this market gives the products.

Traders sell everything in this market.

It is organized.

There is a committee or union for this
market.

There is another market in Ferzol. It is parallel to
Al Bekaa market, but our market is bigger.

It can fit more amount of products.

Just come and fill your sight with colors.

From a place to a place to a place.

All kinds of vegetables.
Very good condition and very clean.

Some are in plastic boxes,
or carton boxes, or bags.

You can find all what you need
in very good prices.

As you can see, the organization,
cleanliness, calmness, there is no shouting.

I was not expecting that.

Very nice.

It is the biggest in the Middle East,
and I have not came to here before.

Oops.

Very very professional.
Very professional.

Impressive. And I am still walking and
I do not feel like stopping.

From a place to a place to a place,
there is not a tiny bit of trash on the floor.

Our prices here are very good,
package prices. Our products are very clean,

products with clean water,
most of it is clean water, artesian.

Qob Elias products.

Look, there is