Where there is a Will, there is a Way.
I met Dan and his wife Patricia at their home, somewhere at the outskirts of Jounieh. On the outside, the building looked as dull and unimaginative as most edifices of modern Lebanon; their apartment, though, emanated a strong, European ambience – perhaps it was the fireplace combined with the furniture style and overall space arrangement – that felt familiar and particularly welcoming.
The afternoon was hot and humid, so we quickly crossed the shaded interior, emerging into the breeze of a cosy balcony, decorated with Lilliputian flowerpots and an assortment of cute memorabilia. Soon, a jug of iced tout (a delectable refreshment made of blueberries from the Lebanese mountains) was placed on the table, offering relief from the fatigue of the summer heat.
Our visit was meant to be brief: a mere stopover to pick up a home-made tart as a gift for a friend. The yummy-looking dessert, though, wrapped in crispy cellophane adorned with a ribbon, carried a story more exciting than its enticing aroma, and we were quickly engrossed in the details.
By the summer of 2020, the pandemic crisis, coupled with months of economic deterioration and a political impasse that remains unsurmountable to this day, had brought Lebanon to its knees, even before the explosion that wiped Beirut’s port off the map. Poverty, like a plague, spread from the already underprivileged communities to the lower levels of the middle class, turning hard-working people, moderately self-sufficient until then, into paupers in urgent need of financial aid. Desperation crept into the hearts of many, impinging the famed resilience of a nation known for its ability to laugh cheerfully at the face of adversity. The blow on the pride of those, especially men, who, within a few months, were rendered unable to provide the bare necessities to their families remains an open wound, carefully concealed and carried in silence: an invisible canker slowly eating its way into the soul. Unfortunately, the future looks gloomy for Lebanon, even in a post-pandemic scenario.
In a smother of melancholy and powerlessness, Dan, a senior finance executive of Danish origins, with profound experience in international projects, saw his business degenerating fast to an absolute zero. His wife’s part-time job at the Lebanese American University offered some temporary comfort, too scant to be reliable, especially considering that her contract was about to expire with few chances of renewal. One day, in a fit of anger coupled with despair, Dan isolated himself in the kitchen in search of ways to express his frustration and, after a few hours, he emerged holding two tarts in his hands.
The lockdown brought to the surface the cooking aspirations of many. The mere process of working with one’s hands while exploring combinations of food ingredients – the basic elements of energy that hold us together – turned into a healing meditation, installing peace and a grounding sentiment amidst uncertainty. Dan, like most other of the pandemic’s impromptu chefs, found solace, meaning, and, above all, purpose in his tarts, channelling creatively the energy that he had suppressed for months. With only one oven and a single tart mould, he experimented with favours and colours, quickly putting together a long list of mouth-watering options – the “Red Cactus”, the “Duo Flower”, the “Cherry Temple”, or the “Lemon Fusion” to name but a few. As such, almost overnight, a new business was born, initially out of need but mostly out of passion.
Dan speaks of his tarts with the affection of a lover. He defends his use of high-quality butter, describes almost amorously the slow-baking process of the crust, and laments the impact of Lebanon’s hyperinflation on the prices which, with their non-stop rising trajectory, threaten to strangle the tender sprouts of the new initiative. Yet, he remains unwavering in his choice of ingredients, for, after all, these artisanal tarts are an expression of himself, and their essence cannot be discounted.
Somewhere mid-way our conversation, servings of “Minted Melon Twist” were offered in plates decorated with floral patterns to complement the home-made refreshment we had been enjoying so far. With its chocolate-enhanced crust, creamy custard, and succulent melon scoops, the result was, indeed, a joyful and summery celebration of flavours crowned with minty explosions of freshness. To this day, the mere memory makes my mouth water.
The Minted Melon Twist.
The birth of the new venture was not the end of the story, but, rather, the beginning. The endeavour was soon embraced by the community, and, despite the economic challenges and overall gloomy mood, friends rushed to offer their support. For example, when Dan shared the updates with his former MBA classmates, one of them took the initiative to gift a tart to everyone in the group. The suggestion was seconded and enhanced with a pay-it-forward plan so that each person who would accept the gift would then pass on the same act of kindness to someone else. Soon, the reputation of the premium desserts grew exponentially, and one had to place an order well in advance to secure prompt delivery.
Despite the tarts’ yummy texture, this is not a story about a confection. Neither is it a recount of hardship and despair. Instead, it is a reminder that resourcefulness, creativity, and imagination are our most precious tools in times of need, the cornerstones on which our evolution has depended since the beginning of time. Coupled with the unparalleled tenderness of our humanity and the unfaltering solidarity amidst our communities, we have the ability – the potency, if you will – to perpetually emerge renewed. Ultimately, it is our dependency upon each other that makes us formidable, and our inherent desire to extend a helping hand that makes us worthy. After all, where there is a will, there is a way – and this way was always meant to be shared. Somehow, there is joy in this collective unfolding and, perhaps, this represents the ultimate essence of our existence.
Bearing gifts!
Disclaimer: This article is not sponsored. Still, if you wish to try Dan’s delicious tarts, visit his FB page: @DansHomemadeTarts.
Photos: © Konstantina Sakellariou
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