Workshops And Hosting Druze - Abtisam Fares

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Horfesh is a village located in the Upper Galilee Mountains, where you can enjoy a unique hospitality experience that includes food workshops full of rich, authentic Druze dishes at Abtisam and Amal Fares's residence.

 

Undoubtedly, the Golan region excels in breathtaking sceneries and many places worth visiting. As part of the leading articles on the sector towards the holiday season this summer, we examined unique places that provided authentic country hospitality combined with particular foods. One of the top places in Upper Galilee is the hospitality experience of Abtisam Fares kosher Druze food hosting and workshops, whose customers say they are blessed with "golden hands" that produce lovely flavors. So we went out to check.

 

Abtisam's beautiful house in Horfesh settlement is surrounded by a magnificent garden with fruit trees, jasmine, Louisa, and rosemary bushes that create a unique aroma. In addition, the waterfall located in the house's yard creates a peaceful atmosphere that gives peace to everyone in the place. Abtisam and her husband Amal offer traditional Druze hospitality. Abtisam believes that cooking plays an essential role in our lives through the preparation of a rich meal like the king's hand, which includes authentic Druze dishes with plenty of flavors: majdera, pepper, shulbata, chicory, stuffed zucchini, eggplants and gourd plants, mansaf, kebab, rice with pine nuts and vegetable salads picked directly from the field. Beyond the tasty plates, the emphasis is on freshness and the raw supplies, so the guests enjoy high-quality products.

 

As part of the hospitality, the guests walk around Abtisam and Amal's house to absorb the authentic Druze tradition firsthand. Amal sits with the guests after the meal to tell them about Druze history and traditions, along with herbal tea, homemade cakes, and special cookies made with love by Abtisam. In addition to the unique hospitality experience, the great food, and the authentic atmosphere, there is the feeling of belonging that Abtisam and her husband Amal give to the guests, who receive full attention to make them feel "at home."

In a conversation with Abtisam, we heard from her about the background that led her to open her home and entertain the general public "My mother was a great cook. She believed in the importance of cooking which made her cook for all the weddings in the village. Out of concern, she spoiled me too much and did not want me to cook. So, she made sure to prepare the food for me all the time. I have been and still admire her, she inspired me along the way, and I wanted to be like her, to learn from her. Thus, when I got married, to my delight, she agreed to teach me the cooking secrets that have been delivered through generations in the family."

 

Abtisam began to specialize in cooking and set up a sale stand to sell her dishes at different festivals. The beautiful responses were not long in coming. Until one day, home hospitality led to the opening of the business; she explained that "One day, my husband Amal returned from work and encountered tourists who asked him for a recommendation for a place that prepares authentic Druze food; he invited them to us because he knew On that day, I prepared a traditional Druze dish for him called Mughrabiya. We spent a splendid evening gathering around the table, and we decided that this is our calling - to host people and introduce them to the Druze tradition through food."

 

In addition to the dining, Abtisam holds dedicated workshops for groups. During the workshops, guests learn all the secrets of Abtisam's kitchen, where they prepare the delicacies for the shared meal at the end of the preparation. Furthermore, Abtisam ensured that children could enjoy preparing meals by baking a special dough under Abtisam's guidance. Furthermore, during the picking season, there is an option to combine the picking and cooking workshops, in which the guests and Abtisam go together to the forest that is located near her house to collect different kinds of plants; at the same time, Abtisam gives valuable information and explanations about the process.

 

In light of the demands, Abtisam qualified the kitchen in her yard to include kosher food, so Jewish people can also enjoy the hosting experience and the workshops.

The quality of the hospitality and the experience in one place did not go unnoticed by the guests who visited Abtisam and Amal's home. Ami Alfandari says, "sixteen visitors who were guests at Abtisam and Amal's home. The food was very varied and delicious. Everything we had there was excellent. Abtisam and Amal make you feel at home. We heard about the Druze culture over coffee and a perfect dessert. I highly recommend," Ben Fabian, another guest, describes, "We were Three couples and enjoyed a culinary and cultural experience; I highly recommend the cooking workshop and the amazing home hospitality of Ebtisam and her family."

 

The next time you are staying in Upper Galilee, it is advisable to make a reservation in advance at Abtisam and enjoy an exceptional, enriching, and satisfying hospitality experience.