Middle Eastern cuisine
A Love Letter to Dolma, a Middle Eastern Parcel of Joy
Arabs, Greeks, Turks, Azerbaijanis—all are united by their love of dolma, the centuries-old dish of stuffed grape vine leaves.
Hustling a Shawarma Machine in the Shawarma Capital of Canada
There’s a long story behind how I came to own this machine. It’s a tale involving thousands of dollars worth of industrial kitchen equipment, a hastily cashed certified cheque, and an amicable breakup that left me with a shawarma machine love child.
Meet the Falafel King of the Idomeni Refugee Camp
At the Idomeni refugee camp on the border of Greece and Macedonia, you’ll find Syrian chef Tamer: frying chicken, mixing yogurt-tahini sauce, and barking orders to his eager cohort of line cooks.
The Edible Legacy That Arabs Left in Southern Italy
From ingredients like hard durum wheat that led to the development of pasta to the use of nuts in sweets, the food of Puglia is what it is because of Arab influence.
Little Arabia Is an Edible Oasis in Southern California
This improbable corridor of Orange County houses a thriving community of Arab-owned bookstores, clothing shops, halal butchers, and hookah lounges—even the local Baja Fresh and Sizzler offer halal meat choices.
A Trip to the West Bank's Cheesy Dessert Capital
I recently traveled to the West Bank town of Nablus, the home of one of the Middle East's favorite desserts: a cheesy, obscenely sweet pastry known as knafeh.
This Portland Restaurant Wants to Remake Iraq's Image
Portland's Dar Salam isn't your run-of-the-mill Middle Eastern restaurant. Owner Ghaith Sahib, who survived a car bomb in Baghdad in 2005, and his American wife have made it their mission to rehabilitate Iraq in the American mind through their food.
The Middle East Really Likes Vegan Snack Bars
While British diners were busy gorging on Ottolenghi and tabbouleh, the Middle East developed a taste for dairy and gluten-free UK imports.
Black Tahini Is the Dark Magic of Palestine
In the ancient city of Nablus in the West Bank, Palestinians make an inky black version of tahini called qizha that's just about impossible to source outside of the region. Finding it has become a minor personal obsession.
Persian Food Is a Goldmine for the Intolerant
Middle Eastern cuisine might not seem like a good option for those with problematic bellies, but it turns out that the largely wheat and dairy free food of Persia is an untapped goldmine for the intolerant.
The 1,000-Year-Old Hangover Cure
After a drunken evening of weed-infused wine, you're probably feeling a bit hazy. Take a page from the Arab world's oldest cookbook and treat that hangover with some comfort food fit for a caliph.
Syrian Toshkas Recipe
A grilled pita filled with a thin layer of spiced, ground meat, Aleppan cheese, and thinly sliced tomatoes.