Souk el Akel is an event that happens around once every month or so in various areas of Lebanon. It’s frequented by many Lebanese from different ages and background, but all of them have one common interest: FOOD.
Need I say more? Well yes, actually there is a lot more to say about how enjoyable this event is.
First, I would like to highlight the fact that I went alone. You’d think going to an event like this needs a partner, but actually there was nobody distracting me from looking around and watching how others were enjoying the event. Take 10 minutes of your time to look around, and you’d be smiling just like I was. The people were simply amazing! I was surprised to find 2 types of people at Souk el Akel: those who went to the event (and i quote) “with a promise [to each other] to share and try everything”, and on the other hand those who went to the event simply to enjoy the ambiance and smells… And, well, to take pictures and post them on Snapchat/ Instagram/ Facebook!
The costumes were a real chock to be honest, the “Spooky Edition” teaser on social media didn’t prepare me for what I witnessed. Simple and cute decorations left and right, a stand with either a couple of halloween decorations, or with staff in costumes… or both!
I have to admit I might have looked a bit weird to all the staff as I walked around with a smile on my face while passing by every decorated stand. It really put me in the mood for halloween!
The Souk el Akel’s traditional lights really brought everything together too. I would have missed the whole event if I hadn’t recognised the soft lights hovering over the stands.
The staff? So friendly! They all started taking poses once I asked them to look my way, ready to live their role to the fullest. I could really feel the halloween spirit, the good vibes and the all ‘round enjoyable mood.
Since when were apes allowed to handle a grill? Why was there an elf walking around with a sandwich in his hand and an apron over his clothes?
Pirates? Serving beer too? Shiver me timbers!
But my all-time favourite, witches and wizards making frozen ice-cream with their weird looking cauldron. Way to be creative guys!
To top it all off, I even got free cotton candy as a reward for all the walking around!
Going back to the event goers, they couldn’t stop talking about the food. All their topics of conversation were about what they wanted to try, what looked good, what they thought about the food, what they saw from the No Garlic No Onions Instagram page. And I don’t blame them!
NGNO has a way of tempting your appetite, follow them on Instagram if you don’t believe me and prove me wrong. I dare you.
I asked several people for their opinion about the event, and they all had the same thing to say, which can’t be better described other than with one simple word.
#YUM
One foodie shared his view about the prices in a very funny way. “15.000 for a burger sounds a bit pricey to me. But then i took a bite out of the black burger, expecting just a coloured regular-tasting bread. I was wrong, the bread itself tastes really good and it accentuates the meat too. I didn’t expect it to be this good, and it’s worth the price too”
So lesson learnt. If it looks good, chances are it tastes good. And in the end, it costs to eat something with quality.
But if you don’t have enough money to spend on everything, it’s okay, take your time in picking out what’s worth your budget, walk around, watch how different people are enjoying the food and when you’re ready, prepare to stick your teeth in some really enjoyable meals!
If you’re still interested in visiting the Souk, you can now find it every Thursday in Downtown, Beirut, from 5pm to 11pm.
Blue Wanderluster 