Manousheh Lover

The Real Taste of Beirut in the Heart of New York City!

Whether you are Lebanese, know someone from Lebanon or simply love culture food, you should definitely give Manousheh a visit. You will thank me later. #sahtein

"Our hope is to create a cozy environment where those who have never been to Lebanon leave our space with the goal of visiting, and for those who have been, to leave feeling like they just had a real taste of Beirut."

www.manousheh.com

What's the story behind Manousheh?

Wildly present in Lebanon and famously proclaimed as the star to most of our breakfast meals, a "manousheh" is typically a flatbread freshly baked from the corner's bakery oven - known as "furn" - , topped with your choice of zaatar (a delicious mix of thyme herbs and sesame seeds), cheese, veggies, meat etc.

Every Lebanese, needs his weekly dose of

"manousheh", and finding a good "manousheh" to satisfy your taste buds is a challenge for all expats of my home country.

Luckily Ziyad Hermez, began his personal pursuit, yearning for the best "manousheh" a decade ago, as soon as he dropped his luggages in the US. Out of resources, he decided to bake it himself. It was such a masterpiece that he chose - #thankfully - to share his accomplishment with the public.

Why is it so successful?

Almost 3 years have rolled out since the first opening of Manousheh on Macdougal and Bleecker street. Today, over 200 "manoushehs" are baked daily to feed the hunger of passing New Yorkers. Manousheh turned out to be such a success that it not only attracts the Lebanese community - undoubtedly the #bestmanoushehintown - but it also paved its way as a perfect on the go sandwich to satisfy all's cravings.

And here is a little + specially for the Lebanese community, Manousheh also offers famous Lebanese beers, juices and wine! Bonjus anyone?

"Manousheh" on your social networks

Everyone in Beirut has been talking about the success of Manousheh in NYC for quite a while now. Manousheh, also known as "the portal to beirut" has been expansively featured in the news, on social media and on so many Lebanese blogs, that it's presence in the digital world was automatically shared within the Lebanese community.

Manousheh has also develop their own social platform @manoushehNYC. However their activity is somehow limited, mainly to post about their new deals and offers - the latest one being a loyalty card for a chance to get free "manoushehs" #dream. The current number of SM followers - mainly Lebanese - does not do justice to the popularity of this bakery. I therefore think a digital campaign conveying Manousheh's sense of hospitality and desire to share our culture would be perhaps attract new followers from around the world.

Nevertheless, inevitably, as soon as I landed in New York and started to experience the "manousheh" cravings, I knew exactly where to go. And I can assure you, as I took my first step inside the bakery, I felt home...

Photos by Nousha Salimi for Brownbook Magazine