Sfouf, my favourite Lebanese cake
This is my favourite Lebanese cake, its name, Sfouf (صفوف) coming from the Arabic word for “rows,” which is how the cake is cut after baking. It is a semolina cake flavored with turmeric, which gives it a bright yellow colour and is topped with almond nuts. I tried it
Holy Trails and Sneaky Cats: Hiking to the Cave Monastery of the Cross in Wadi Qannoubine
Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025 Destination: Hadchit Valley: Monastery of the Cross (Deir El Salib), Wadi Qannoubine (Holy Valley) 12 Km hike, 5.5 hours, difficulty: moderate (5/10) Organized by: Hiking Forever Lebanon, M. Miled Mattar What better way to spend a brisk December Saturday than hiking into Lebanon’s deep history
Chasing the sun and steep gradients, Dalhoun-Saida loop diary
The day’s aim was to conquer the Dalhoun-Saida Loop, a route I labeled “easy ride”. It was a day defined by brilliant sunshine, 130C that felt like 100C, a stiff, cool wind, and a healthy dose of drama, both on and off the bike. The Wake-Up Call: A 16% kicker
Welcome to Lebanon
(Ahlan bikum fi lubnan) This is perhaps the most common thing you hear when you arrive in Lebanon and during your stay. But, what does it really mean, and what could a first time visitor expect to experience when arriving and staying in Lebanon? The more you experience the country,