LEBANONISTRULYbeautiful,withlandscapesunlikeanywhereelseintheworldand
foodthat’squitesimplydivine.That’swhatI want you to experience; the positive side
ofthecountrythatI havegrownsofondof.
InLebanon,peoplesay‘sahtain’ beforeoraftera meal.It literallymeans‘double
health’.Whatit reallyreferstois thesharedbondofenjoyingfood.I guessit’slike
sayingtosomeone,“Loveeverymouthfulofwhatyou’reabouttoeat.”I adorethis
concept.Alltoooftenweforgetthatfoodis a pleasureandshouldalwaysbesavoured.
IcalledthisbookSaffronintheSouksbecause,forme,thenameconjuresup
somethingexciting,exoticandmysterious.It’snotthedefinitiveguidetoLebanese
cuisineinthetraditionalsense.It’sa snapshotofwhat’sgoingoninthecountrytoday.
IhopeyouenjoyusingthisbookasmuchasI didwritingit.Cookupa storm,flood
the table with recipes, love every mouthful and, as the Lebanese say,sahtain.@johngsPORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHALAN KEOHANEEXTR ACT.