A guide to authentic Lebanese desserts in Toronto
When you think of Lebanese food, you're probably picturing a vibrant mix of meat, veg, and herbs. Platters piled high with shawarma, plenty of parsley to go around, fragrant chopped salads, crispy and crunchy falafel balls. But what comes after that?
Lebanese cuisine might not be known for its desserts, but in our opinion, it certainly should be. Our sweets are different from traditional North American treats in that they rely more on aromatic floral and citrusy notes to round out their flavour — more rosewater, less blue raspberry. Here’s a sneak peek into our menu and a mini crash course on what these desserts are all about.
Carefully curated confections
On our menu, you'll find desserts that are pulled from two main sources: nostalgia, and recipes from our owner Yasmine's mother! Our orange cake and rice pudding are two of mom's claims to fame, and Yasmine has always counted them among her post-dinner favourites.
The cake is a light, fluffy, citrusy bite that pairs perfectly with a cup of strong tea. The rice pudding is infused with orange blossom water, then garnished with fragrant rose petals and pistachios. Both recipes have been perfected over years of iteration, and now, we're lucky to have the very best versions in our hands.
Lazy cake, on the other hand, is pure 100% nostalgia. This sweet treat is popular across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, with different twists incorporated in each region. According to Yasmine, it's nearly impossible to find a Lebanese household without one of these chocolatey, biscuit-studded confections in their freezer!
Our MVB (Most Valuable Bite)
All of our desserts are a ten out of ten, but the one that most frequently steals customers' hearts is the rice pudding. Maybe because it's incredibly delicious — maybe because they're returning the love we put into every bite.
Rice pudding is indeed a labour of love, as it's very time-consuming to make. It needs to be stirred over low heat for more than an hour and a half, patiently, and with care. It also has a special ingredient that most people can’t guess, which makes it all the more unique.
Where to begin
If you've never tried Lebanese dessert before, you're definitely not alone. But if you've read this far, we can imagine you're pretty curious about what it has in store. Yasmine's recommendation: as your first foray into Lebanese sweets, go for the rice pudding. If not, make it the orange cake.
Rice pudding is something you can find in many different cultures, so it's more likely to feel familiar to many diners (though we've given our recipe a special twist with rosewater). The orange cake might also feel familiar; it's comparable to a coffee cake in some ways, but with bright flavours like citrus. Two different entry points that will have you trying something new without straying too far from your comfort zone!
Sounds sweet to you?
Stop by 1376 Queen St W. to sample our desserts in-person! Our team can walk you through everything you need to know about each one — ingredients, history, taste profile — then pair you up with the perfect bite for your palate.