Labneh

Labneh is a soft cows cheese that is usually made by women in the villages. The cheese is formed into small balls and stored in jars of olive oil. The olive oil preserves the cheese from the effects of oxygen so that a jar of labneh in olive oil can be stored for years at a time without refrigeration.

The Zarb

Zarb is a meat-smoker that is particularly common around Bethlehem. Father of Tony first builds a fire with olive wood inside the square brick smoker. Once the fire is burning hot and coals are beginning to form, he places stuffed chickens and trays of vegetables inside and than seals the opening with a heat tile and iron door. No oxygen should be able to sneak into the Zarb.


The chickens are stuffed with baby onions, cherry tomatoes, small potatoes and whole cloves of garlic.
Relaxing after the meal with a beer or Arak.

Hommus - Beautiful Hommus

Hommus with whole chickpeas, olive oil and parsley.
Shawerma meat carved on to a bowl of hommous with toasted cashews and green chilli.
Hommous prepared by Father of Steve with pickle slices, chickpeas, green chilli and paprika.