A sandwich as a symbol of Lebanese national identity
Lebanon, Short Essay, 10/8/1997

She is wonderful to smell and delicious to taste. A real delight for the senses. No, it's not what you think. She's not a beautiful, sexy babe. "She" is the mankousheh. The mankousheh is a typical Lebanese snack: Baked in a very special way, this unique sandwich usually contains hand-made thyme or fresh melted cheese. Tomatoes, pickles and fresh mint leaves are sometimes added to complete the masterpiece. Yummy!! The good news ? It only costs 750LL ($ .50 ).

This is why everyone, from the richest rich to the beggar in the street, eats this mouth-watering snack. Served as breakfast, lunch or dinner, the mankousheh is light on the stomach and on the pocket. In fact, this sandwich has become a symbol of the Lebanese national identity. It must be as old as the culture since no one knows when it was invented, but everyone has tasted it and loved it. So this is partly why the Lebanese abroad miss three things only: Their homes, their family and the mankousheh.

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