Sometimes great things are found in unlikely places. In Tabarja, there's a bakery that sells unique croissants and a superb pizza really worth trying. Come here for the croissant and don't leave without having a pizza. Meet Charbel, a chef, a passionate man, a fine cook who left everything to open his small business: Steve's Bakehouse.
I started with the croissant:
- Crisp on the outside with a very soft heart, Steve's Bakehouse croissants are different to any other croissants you've had in Lebanon. They are not flaky and don't feel buttery like a French croissant but are more like a piece of fresh cake stuffed with chocolate or jam. I loved the light feel, their thin crunchy crust, the colorful stripes. This croissant is special and I like it!
Now the pizza:
- The pizza is even better than the croissant. A very thin soft dough is covered with fresh tomato sauce, a load of cheese, slices of ham, a sprinkle of herbs, thickly cut fresh mushrooms and some black olives. A couple basil leaves add a touch of color. I loved it so much that I ended eating three slices - when I initially came for a simple tasting. The pizza is sold at only LBP12,000 but is worth much much more. I felt transported to Italy and back.
Steve's Bakehouse is not a restaurant but a bakery with three high tables to accommodate you. I would recommend you visit the place and enjoy the pizza, freshly baked and served hot during the day until 11pm, or pass by as early at 8am for a fresh colorful croissant. Charbel calls them the "Bicolor Croissants".
In Tabarja, on the Jounieh-Jbeil highway, take the Kfaryassin entrance and turn right. Steve's Bakehouse is where you're having your next pizza.
