Welcome to Eat Baila Travel
Today we take you to a Lebanese cafe in Acayucan, Veracruz
So why are we featuring a Lebanese cafe in today's vlog?
Well first of all start the food and the desserts are amazing and if you find yourself around the area you will definitely recommend you check it out!
but also this cafe is a good example of history in the present day
We are excited to share an immigration story of a Mexican-Lebanese fusion that still exists today
but first, here is some historical context on Lebanese migration to Mexico
There have been two great migrations of Lebanese to Mexico
One in 1892, but at that time Lebanon was known as the Ottoman Empire.
An estimated 100,000 Lebanese arrived through the port of Veracruz and the Progreso port of Yucatan.
During the war between Israel and Lebanon in 1948,
thousands of Lebanese fled Lebanon and migrated back to Mexico, many of them reached
the port of Veracruz and the Progreso port of Yucatan.
Over the years the Lebanese have influenced Mexican food in interesting ways.
The most notable food is Tacos al pastor and Arab tacos.
Today's vlog features one of the many ways we still see this fusion of cultures today.
Hi! Welcome to Café Sufiaan
I am here with my friend Denise and
and we are going to tell you about this really unique place in the city of Acayucan
where you can come and get delicious Lebanese food.
Just a heads up, I want to inform you that this conversation will take place in Spanish.
If you need the subtitles, be sure to press the CC button so that you can follow
Denise Thank you so much for having us here at Cafe Sufiaan.
We are super excited to share what you offer with our colleagues.
Could you tell us a little about who you are and a little about your family's history so we can understand why you made Café Sufiaan.
Café Sufiaan is named after my grandmother Sofía
Arabic food idea comes from my paternal grandparents who were born in Lebanon
My mother was orphaned very young and was raised by her great grandmother who was Lebanese.
My grandmother didn't even speak Spanish so they grew up on with authentic Lebanese food.
So we also grew up with Lebanese food as part of daily life.
We would consume both Arab / Lebanese and Oaxacan food.
Wow Denise, I'm really interested in your family history. Because it is a story of immigrants
who went to another country where I suppose they arrived with very little and then they were able to establish themselves.And
now, as a descendant, you share your food
and show what seems to be a sense of pride for your culture and your ancestors.
Can you tell me about why you decided to offer Café Sufiaan to Acayucan.
My daughter Sofia started making delicious Arab desserts like mamul, baklava.
And that's how the idea ignited and i got involved. And without realizing I would wake up craving recipes
and I would would experiment with them that day and from there I kept trying out new recipes.
We started offering a very small variety of options
and desserts but we were offering things we would make at home.
It is not the same to cook industrially than to cook for a certain number of people.
Because I don't have a large influx yet, but we do everything with
love and dedication so that each dish is special.
With love, all the dishes are very tasty.
That's right!
For example, here I put three entries.
The Jocoque is a softer Greek yogurt. We have prepared it with olives and spices.
And well the hummus which is a chickpea dip that I also make a little softer and creamier
The raw Kibbeh which is very difficult to sell. To be honest we don't make it often
We only sell by special request because it is difficult for people eat raw meat but it is raw meat
with wheat and garnished with spearmint and chives.
We wish the Sufiaan cafe a lot of success.
And if you are in the area, be sure to visit this place for some amazing Middle Eastern food, you will not regret it.
Let's go ahead and try this food because I've been waiting for all this conversation to try it.
hmmm
The hummus
hmmmm
I loved the touch of onion and hot pepper
Mexican Hummus. Mexican Lebanese hummus ...... Super good!
I have never tried this one. This is brand new to me
This is something you would never have thought of ordering in any Lebanese restaurant.
Just because I'm not familiar and I wouldn't know what I'm ordering but thanks to Denise, am I going to try it today
like this?
Is it eaten with the cracker?
yeah
OHHH
It's GOOD!
Jenny took too big a bite
The flavor in this are the spices
It is like a mixture of spicy and mint and the olive oil gives it a delicious flavor!
Thanks Denise
I loved this one!
I know raw meat can be a bit scary, but it's delicious!
In fact the raw Kibbeh is my favorite
as well as the Kibbeh cooked but this is my favorite
And now my favorite part, dessert time!
Let's try this date pudding. Which is a fluffy spongy date cake dessert
and then we have the baklava, both are traditional Lebanese style desserts
I'm super excited to try this warm spongy fluffy cake.
Oh MY GOD!
This is the best thing I've tried as far as desserts when it comes to Middle Eastern food.
I mean, I like baklava, Kunefe, which is a Turkish dessert.
If you watch our Turkey video, you will see some of the amazing foods that I am talking about.
I am not very familiar with Lebanese food and I am very glad I tried it, Thank you Denise.
I think the best baklava has the pistachio toppings on top.
The ones we'd get in Chicago, the Greek-style baklava, were more walnut-based.
But I love the pistachios.
I think what makes the food here so good and especially the dessert
It is made with such detailed attention
and the best ingredient of all which is the love that is in each dish!
You can taste it, you can feel it and it feels like home even if you are not Lebanese.
The truth is I thank you very much for the invitation and giving us the opportunity
to learn a little more about the culture not only yours but also what is developing here in Acayucan.
As you know, Kevin has roots and family here in Acayucan and we are very proud to be able to share this
I loved meeting you both you are are amazing
I hope to see y'all around here more often.
Thank you very much