Middle-Eastern

Taste the First Microbrew of the Middle East in Manayunk Tonight

Posted by Foobooz on February 6th, 2013

Tonight, Old Eagle Tavern in Manayunk will be hosting Mazen Hajjar, the brewer and owner of 961 Beer, claim to be the first and only microbrewery located in the Middle East. Hajjar will be on hand during happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m.

Crisp Is Now Grillicious

Posted by Foobooz on November 19th, 2012

After a year long run as Crisp, the falafel spot at 18th and Ludlow is rebranding itself as Grillicious. And that’s not the only change as the fast-serve spot is now offering some non-vegetarian options.

The new menu offers flatbread sandwiches (gone is the orignal pita), salads, hummus bowls and an angus burger.

The new Grillicious is under the same ownership and opens to the public tomorrow, Tuesday, November 20th.

Check out the full menu »

Aksum Ups Game for Fall

Posted by Amanda Shulman on October 5th, 2012

Now that fall has officially fallen, Aksum Mediterranean Kitchen is rolling out a new menu to match. Featuring seasonal changes to both the dinner and brunch menus. Aksum is welcoming autumn with full force and Eastern Mediterranean flair.The dinner and lunch menu boasts new appetizers like the Wild Mushroom Bisque and the Roasted Beet Salad, which will certainly kick your meal off to a hearty start. New entrées like Tender Braised Lamb Shank and Grilled Seitan with herb and wild mushroom faro have been added to the menu. End your meal with Carrot Cake or some Oreo Beignets.

Check out brunch »

International Food Around Philadelphia

Posted by Foobooz on December 29th, 2011

View The World on Your Doorstep in a larger map
In the magazine’s January issue on food neighborhoods we also highlight neighborhoods in Philadelphia for the best ethnic foods. From Injera and Kitfo to Baklava, Tom Kha and Tempeh, here’s where to score Philadelphia’s best ethnic dishes.

Check out our accompanying Google Map where there is much more detail on each Indian restaurant, Vietnamese spot and ethnic grocery mentioned.

World at Your Doorstep [Google Maps]

Al Zaytouna Shut Down

Posted by Foobooz on October 26th, 2011

A reader tips us off that Al Zaytouna, the Middle Eastern restaurant next to Sabrina’s on Christian Street has been slapped with a big old Cease Operations placard.

From the details on the candy-striped sign, Al Zaytouna is accused of operating without the proper licenses for food prep and outdoor dining.

Flatbreads & Community at Manakeesh

Posted by Foobooz on March 3rd, 2011

Adam Erace takes in Manakeesh, the Lebanese bakery and cafe at 45th and Walnut. He finds everything you would want in a neighborhood cafe plus Lebanese bites including the manakeesh, a Middle Eastern flatbread sandwich.

The manakeesh options roll 21 deep here, and after three trips, the vegetarian varieties get my vote. The 700-degree dome lures out a woodsy aroma of thyme in a za’atar-covered manakeesh, and lifting that still-warm flatbread to your mug is like catching a whiff of a forest fire. (Sesame and sumac join the herb in the spice blend, the latter accounting for the lemony wallop resounding across the palate.) Topped with feta and akawi, a Middle Eastern fromage that calls to mind queso fresco, the cheese manakeesh is good and salty on its own, but better as a “Combo” (half za’atar). I also dug the “Kishk,” a crushed tomato/cracked wheat/fresh yogurt tang factory as refreshing as citron sorbet.

Not Just (Lebanese) Pizza [City Paper]
Manakeesh [Official Site]`

A Weekend So Lost, We Somehow Missed It

Posted by Kirsten Henri on February 15th, 2011

So the Philadelphia chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild (who knew?) held an event last week, “The Lost Weekend,” which featured vigorous shaking and this cool guy carving a hunk of ice into a ball. See it all on this snappy video from Felicia D. and Sue Spolan at Flying Kite Media.

The Lost Weekend Finds City’s Best Cocktails [Flying Kite]

Firinji Coming to Ardmore

Posted by Foobooz on December 20th, 2010

Firinji is coming to Ardmore. Named for the Turkish word for “baker,” owner Budo H. Bunul is looking to open in two weeks and he has his online ducks in a row. The International quick-serve restaurant with an emphasis on the Middle East already has a complete web site, Facebook page, and even online coupon codes. We cannot say the same for too many now-open bars and restaurants.

The menu (PDF) features breakfast bites, soups, salads, flatbreads and baked potatoes (kumpir). Everything on the menu is well under $10. According to the web site, eating and drinking something above average at reasonable prices in a comfortable atmosphere is the goal. The space will aim to be community focused with a community table for small meetings, bulletin board to post announcements and the work of local artists hung on the walls.

Firinji [Official Site]

45th and Walnut as Little Lebanon

Posted by Foobooz on September 8th, 2010

Coming soon to the corner of 45th and Walnut is Manakeesh Cafe Bakery. The cafe will offer Lebanese baked goods and pastries. The bakery joins Saad’s Halal across the street in giving the intersection a Lebanese flavor.

Featured on the menu will be manakeesh, Lebanese flatbread sandwiches, hummus and sweets like baklava and kanafe.

Manakeesh Cafe Bakery [Official Site]
Manakeesh Cafe Bakery [Facebook]
@manakeeshcafe [Twitter]

Falafel Omelet

Posted by Foobooz on August 10th, 2010

Eldondre commented last week regarding a falafel omelet he found because of a Food Network show. It intrigued several other commenters and us. We checked in with him and here’s the details on where to find this falafel omelet.

TheÂ A&M Halal truck at Drexel serves up this falafel omelet. It’s located on a service road between Market and Chestnut, 31st and 32, Eldondre says it is a really nice couple that owns the truck and they “always seem to give you a piece of falafel while you’re waiting.” A&M Halal was the top street food spot in Philadelphia by Gourmet in 2009 where they had this to say:

Ask for the falafel omelet hoagie, and Mona Hagali will lay on provolone, then disks of falafel, then a rolled omelet with red peppers and onions. A heavy squirt of Sriracha finishes. Alley behind Lebow Engineering Center, Drexel University

A&M Halal was also featured on The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Hidden Treasures on the Food Network.

Philadelphia Street Food [Gourmet]
Hidden Treasures: The Best Thing I Ever Ate [Food Network]

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