Sign in to follow this  
Jacaylbaro

Buns and Guns: Killer sandwiches in Beirut

Recommended Posts

Buns and Guns: Killer sandwiches in Beirut

 

BEIRUT -- With the sound of helicopters hovering overhead, Samir hunched behind a pile of sandbags and sank his teeth into a hamburger.

 

The thirtysomething Beirut resident was not a warrior taking a moment of respite on the battlefield. He was a regular customer dining with his black-veiled wife and little son at Buns and Guns, a new, war-themed restaurant where every detail, from the menu and decor to the names of sandwiches, is inspired by the military world.

 

The eatery, which looks like a military outpost, was designed to be an unconventional hangout, but it also resonates because of recent armed clashes in Beirut and the many tanks and troops deployed in the capital.

 

The restaurant is in a crowded street of Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburb and a Hezbollah stronghold that was the scene of heavy airstrikes during the militant group's 2006 war with Israel.

 

"We wanted to create a new, attractive idea inspired from the events that our country went through," said Yussef Ibrahim, the restaurant's general manager. "People from all backgrounds come here and find the place amusing."

 

At Buns and Guns, a meat sandwich is referred to as an M16 Carbine, a burger is called a Mortar and a veggie snack is known as the Terorist (sic) meal. Potato wedges are Grenades and chicken wings are called Stinger missiles.

 

On the bullet-shaped menu, food items are associated with photos of the weapons they are named after. The food, which comes wrapped in camouflage paper, is made by a chef wearing a helmet instead of a white toque and served by waiters in berets and military baggy pants. A computer produces digital recordings of wartime special effects, including the sounds of choppers swooping in and rockets crashing.

 

For take out, the doggy bags at Buns and Guns are labeled as "top secret" items.

 

"We live in an environment of war with Israel," said Samir, who like many Shiite Muslim residents of this part of Beirut is supportive of Hezbollah's military struggle with Israel and asked that his last name not be published for fear of drawing attention to himself in a Western publication.

 

"This place reminds us of the resistance mood," he said.

 

The slogan of the restaurant -- "Sandwiches Can Kill You" -- is displayed at the entrance with a photo of a hamburger with a pistol sticking between the buns.

 

"The first day I came here to work I was shocked by all this display of weaponry," said 20-year-old Katherine, a biology student in a pink head scarf who works behind the counter and also identified herself only by her first name. "It did remind me of the war in the start, but now I think it's rather fun here."

 

 

web page

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

:D:D Loooooool

 

i wonder what they would have called the tune melt panini i am having right now. i can only think of 'Dhabancas' or 9mm (for those somali challenged) :D

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

At Buns and Guns, a meat sandwich is referred to as an M16 Carbine, a burger is called a Mortar and a veggie snack is known as the Terorist (sic) meal. Potato wedges are Grenades and chicken wings are called Stinger missiles.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Sign in to follow this