Fusing Lebanese and Mexican to mixed results August 23, 2013 12:26 AM By India Stoughton The Daily Star A+ A- BEIRUT: The menu at Frida – a Mexican-Lebanese fusion restaurant located in a beautiful old house in Ashrafieh – perfectly reflects the eatery’s ethos. Covered with a riot of colorful flowers, it ostensibly takes its inspiration from artist Frida Kahlo’s Mexican heritage, but the outcome is decidedly Lebanese. On the back of the folding concertina is two-tone reproduction of one of Kahlo’s famous self-portraits, with a local twist – in line with the national obsession with perfect grooming, the artist’s distinctive monobrow has been judiciously plucked. Arriving one humid August evening, my companions and I elect to forgo the interior’s plush red lampshades, comfortable if unattractive banquette seating and hand-painted murals of Mexican peasants wrapped in shawls and clutching woven baskets, and instead sit outside on the terrace. Lit by old-fashioned street lamps and adorned with attractive wrought-iron and glass furniture, it provides a pleasant, laid-back atmosphere and affords a view of the beautiful building in which the restaurant is housed, with its distinctive circular balconies and rustic red shutters. We are pleasantly surprised to find that the terrace is soon full, surprising on a Monday night, and the gentle buzz of conversation soothes us as we discuss how to tackle the extensive menu. Eventually we agree to order a selection of hot and cold mezze, selecting from the items with “Frida” in the title, in the hope that they will best reflect the restaurant’s approach to Mexican-Lebanese fusion. Things start off well. A bread basket featuring a selection of crispy, fried fragments and flat bread, flavored with an inventive blend of fennel seeds and juicy sultanas, is accompanied by a bowl of sliced green olives and paprika-sprinkled cheddar cheese. We enjoy the simple-yet-pleasing appetizer as we wait for the mezze to arrive. Frida is located in the Al Hayek sector of Ashrafieh. For more information call 01-333-226. Read more: dailystar.lb/Culture/Lifestyle/2013/Aug-23/228303-fusing-lebanese-and-mexican-to-mixed-results.ashx#ixzz2cxIdLV3E
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 05:23:14 +0000
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