She has learned to simplify some of the old recipes so that she will be able to prepare the food her family likes and at the same time give part of her day to other activities. Lebanese hospitality leans heavily on the necessity that an abundant table should be set at all times. A hostess has food on hand to offer a guest no matter at what time of day or night he may arrive. She will urge her guests to eat heartily of the wide variety of foods which she has preparedfor their enjoyrnent. There is an Arabic proverb to the effect that the measure of a guest's regard for his host is the amount of food which he eats.
Coffee is essential to hospitality in Lebanon, as it is in all Middle Eastern countries.
It is the traditional sign of welcome. The intricacies of the coffee ritual are explained later on in this book. Menus are carefully planned by Lebanese hostesses, tradition playing an important role in the selection of food for certain occasions. Many foods have significance in the Arab cultural pattern. These dishes are reserved for specific occasions.