To eat with
Get to know the El-Farasha House, learn the secrets of the Akko authentic cuisine from the unique women’s team of El-Farasha House
Beit Elfarasha (The Butterfly House)
Beit Elfarasha was created with a vision empowering local women to use their talents to connect with people from other cultures, through the universal act of preparing a meal together, and sharing it.
We have vetted and trained a group of inspirational female cooks from Akko, enabling them to teach how they make the same delicious meals for their own families, and to share stories about their lives and heritage.
For over 4000 years the cuisine of Akko has been built around the sea and the produce of the surrounding hills. There are many typical dishes that are very connected to the broader culture of Lebanon and Syria. At the heart of our local culture is family, with family gatherings and food being at the core of who we are.
You will not only “see” how these delicacies are prepared; you’ll be “part” of the process.
To eat with’ – Cooking Workshop‘
Workshops are for groups of 10 person minimum and last around 4 hours.
Subject to weather conditions, morning workshops will begin with a short tour of the local market (shuk) in Akko – where your cook will explain why and how you purchase specific vegetables for the dishes you will be preparing. As examples: when making Sheik el Mashi, you need a very specific type of zucchini; or you need to choose the best fish for a Sayaadiya.
No trip to the shuk (outdoor market) would be complete without a visit to the local spice store, where the spices are blended just right to bring out the extraordinary flavor of your dish.
We have hand-selected women from Akko to deliver these workshops, ensuring they bring their culinary skills and personalities as they share their passion, pride, and personal stories.
Each workshop will include learning how to prepare special dishes from local cuisine – and then eating what you cooked. Workshops will be based on options of fish, vegetarian, meat, stuffed vegetables, and others. The workshops have a main theme and the accompanying dishes will change by the season.
Included is access to detailed menus (with the recipes) and a souvenir of a jar of pickles that you will prepare yourself in each workshop.
additional tours
Walking the Labyrinth Nights
We will open up our Butterfly Labyrinth, designed by Marcia Raff, every full moon night.
Labyrinths are geometrical patterns used for walking or tracing, as a tool to assist the consciousness. They have been in existence for thousands of years. No one knows for certain when or where they first originated. They have been used by different cultures and mystical and religious traditions worldwide.
Some patterns are simple, and some are more complex.
A labyrinth differs from a maze in that there is only one way in and one way out. They have one continuous path that twists and turns, eventually leading to the center. There are no dead ends. There is nothing to figure out as you walk or trace a labyrinth. You simply follow the path to the center and then retrace the same path back out.
There are infinite focuses you may choose. There is no “right or wrong” way to walk a labyrinth.
What you focus on at the time may be determined by where you are in your life and what your questions, concerns or goals may be in the moment.
It is best to walk the labyrinth with an open heart and an open mind, asking for that which is for your highest good.
Here are some suggestions.
-You might walk it as a kind of prayer.
-You might walk it as a symbolic journey, as mentioned above.
-You might set the intention to receive inspiration, or to receive an answer to a question, or solution to a “problem.”
-You might walk the labyrinth with the intention to unwind, to let go of a worry or burden of some sort –letting it go when you reach the center.
-You might use the labyrinth for learning more about yourself and life, by simply being aware of how you walk it and what you observe as you walk it.
Do you walk it fast? Or slow?
Do you lose your focus or your way?
Does your mind race or can you hold your mind steady and stay present?
Do you wonder when you will reach center?
Do you wonder if you’re doing it right?
If you encounter another person on your path, are you impatient?
We invite you to visit and give it a try if you haven’t already.
Allow your own creativity to be present and walk the labyrinth in the way you think will work best for you.
Labyrinth proponents claim walking a labyrinth can lead to deeper relationships, a stronger sense of community, a feeling of being on a spiritual journey, a sense of inner reflection and connection to sources of guidance, a sense of living in the present, greater creativity, and stress reduction.
Due to space restrictions, registration is required. Walking the Labryinth is open to everyone and is free.
We will give each person a time slot to do his or her labyrinth walk.
You will be sent your time slot thru email and/or WhatsApp.
Tibetan Singing Bowl (Meditation)
Join a unique meditation workshop that combines use of Tibetan bowls for a perfect spiritual experience
Cathy Raff will be leading Tibetan bowl meditations with her handmade Singing bowls she bought from her teacher and brought from Nepal.
Cathy has participated in a training course in Kathmandu, Nepal and loves giving relaxing meditations that are all around the special sound and vibrations of Tibetan Bowls.
Her meditation dates will be announced to all of the local Guest rooms available in Akko, as well as on our website.
Due to limited space, registration in advance will be required. There is a minimum fee of 30 NIS, and all proceeds will be donated to the Center for Abused Women in Akko.
