The swift collapse has struck a blow to the pride of many Lebanese, who often have claimed to have the Middle East’s best cuisine and have seen themselves as more sophisticated than others in the region. Now, many wonder how far their standard of living will fall.
For three decades, Chef Antoine El Hajj has appeared on television five days a week to help cooks across Lebanon improve their grasp of the culinary arts.
Now he cut beef from his menus and fills his segments with tips on how to keep dishes tasty with cheaper vegetables. “The middle class has become poor and the poor have become destitute,” he said.