Brut by Youssef Akiki
Hrajel, Lebanon
Many chefs set up shop in their hometown; few do so in a building built by their grandfather once used to store farming tools. Lebanon’s Youssef Akiki is the exception and this is not the only way in which his seven-table restaurant defies the norms. Set in the mountain town of Hrajel – 42km north of Beirut – the Levantine farm-to-table fine-diner has no menu, with Akiki taking his cues from the surrounding land and whatever Mother Nature serves up on any given day. While each three-, four- or five-course service is unique, his meticulous creations – served on plates specifically designed for each dish – take the produce grown in his own garden as their starting point. The chef has his own fermentation cave, allowing him to make vinegars from scratch and the restaurant’s arak – a strong Lebanese spirit – is made from his own grapes. Try it in Akiki’s signature dish kebbeh nayyeh – croquettes of goat meat tartare served with arak sorbet.
Key Information
- Lunch: Tues – Sun Dinner: Tues – Sat
- 96170227300
- Visit Brut by Youssef Akiki's Website
Location
Unnamed road, Hrajel, Keserwan-Jbeil,
