Habibi in the house!

Delicious and diverse – authentic Lebanese cuisine in the heart of Colombo

By Nizla Naizer

Michel Habibi

There is nothing like being the beloved of someone special, but when food becomes your beloved, there it is bound to be some delicious and interesting consequences. This I witnessed firsthand when I visited Habibi the only authentic Lebanese restaurant in town where Businessman and Proprietor Michel Habibi who loves great food and loves great hospitality, combines generous amounts of both to make the dining experience a truly memorable one.

Situated at the contemporary, neo arty and dazzling Casa Colombo in the heart of the city, the Lebanese restaurant which opened its doors to curious citizens of Colombo last month has quickly captured loyal patrons from here and abroad. The secret apart from the amazing Lebanese cuisine is the affable Habibi himself who successfully runs a chain of restaurants in Middle East and Africa but felt his presence in Sri Lanka was imperative. Hailing from Lebanon, his name (as every Arabic pop culture enthusiast would know) means ‘beloved’ or ‘my love’ in Arabic. “Habibi is one of the most used words in Arabic,” he explained with a grin, “I myself use it more than fifty times a day.”
As you sit in the comfortable chairs at Habibi with an ornate gilded ceiling above you, sparkling mirrors behind you, and deep red glassware in front of you, you are surrounded by calls of ‘habibi’ from all around, taking you to a cozy setting in the heart of Lebanon. In fact, all that is missing are the traditional belly dancers whom Habibi assures he plans on introducing to his next restaurant. It adds to the experience of being in a different time and space with the mystical allure of the Middle East, upbeat melodies of popular Arabic tunes and of course, the importance of good food which plays a vital role in all their lives, including mine.

The Mezze platter

Hummus to Falafel
“Habibi, you must eat everything I give you and you must eat it well,” was the first indication I received from Michel Habibi that he intended to ensure that I taste the best of Lebanon in his colourful and unique restaurant.
I’ve been a great fan of Lebanese cuisine simply because it combines two ingredients that I love the most in food; olive oil and garlic. And the dishes created by Habibi’s three Lebanese chefs played justice to the wonders of these two ingredients.
Start off with a Mezze platter, which is the traditional starter or appetiser and brings to the table over ten different types of food in varying colours, textures and flavours to choose from and which you eat with the traditional Arabic pita bread or alone. The mezze spread at Habibi was amazing! I’ve always loved Hummus, which is blended chickpeas, sesame tahini, lemon juice, and garlic and is a dish that you can get addicted to with its smooth texture and undeniably tangy flavour. Joining the Hummus is Tabbouleh, which Habibi assured me was the ‘Queen of the table’ in any Lebanese household. Tabbouleh is made with diced parsely, mint, tomato and lime and eaten with some pita bread can create a meal in itself. My favourites in the Mezze also included the delicious Garlic and Mint paste along with Muttabel which is grilled eggplant ground to a smooth creamy dish. An interesting meal among the Mezze was the Vine Leaves which wrapped a mixture of rice and herbs and gives a distinct taste similar olives as you bite into them.
“Most of our ingredients are imported from Lebanon,” Habibi pointed out, “That is why we have an unbeatable authentic flavour, but the grape leaves for this particular dish, we import from the vineyards of Australia.”

Chickpeas to Cool Pudding
At the end of the Mezze, you are nice and comfortably full but Habibi assured me that it is the tip of the iceberg. Next up was a delicious assortment of Falafels and Spanish Samosas. I loved the Falafels where the meat and chickpeas ground to soft perfection is enhanced by a chickpea sauce. Yes, the Lebanese love chickpeas but have learnt the culinary art of bringing out the best in this versatile grain. I too am now a fan.
There are a lot of vegetarian items on the menu as Habibi pointed out, but the minute you bring in the meat, it is a whole new ballgame. Cunningly using herbs, spices and fresh ingredients, tender mutton and lamb and flavour full chicken are converted into delicious kababs that almost melt in your mouth. And taking a jab at the well established biriyani, the spicy Chicken Rice that Habibi prepares bring a multitude of herbs and spices together with tender pieces of chicken and is ideal for the rice lover.
Finish off your meal with a delicious dish of Mahalabia, a creamy, cool pudding that tastes of roses and milk and gently soothes you as you enjoy the end of a delicious variety of flavours.
Trust me, do not underestimate the power of Lebanese cuisine. It is wholesome and fulfilling and it is unique in its flavour. It is also very popular internationally, as evidenced by my visit to the restaurant where three diverse ambassadors were seated in the table next to me.
“We hope to open a new restaurant in Colombo 7 to cater to the expatriates and diplomats better,” Habibi said with a grin. If you’re a fan of sheesha or hookah, Habibi has the best of Lebanese flavours to enjoy in the cool night air of Colombo.
Head over to Habibi from 11 am to 11 pm at Casa Colombo, 231, Galle Road, Colombo 4 and take a culinary trip of Middle Eastern delights yourself.