First foray into Middle Eastern cuisine

Well, it's not the first time we've tried Middle Eastern food but the first time we have ventured into a restaurant serving it in Toronto.  We've visited Morocco and have served hummus forever at home but to taste it at an actual Middle Eastern restaurant is a first for us.  Our Summerlicious experience at Tabule was tasty and fun - from the water jug to the hanging lamp and quaint teapot, it was all a new experience.

The appetizer - a combination platter of humus, babaganuj, tabule and falafel served with chewy flatbread (I love it!) - was a meal in itself.  The falafel was delicious - I could have gone home then and not need anything more for the night.  But I had my eye on the dessert, the Knaffa Ashta, angel hair filo topped with custard and topped off with rosewater syrup.  So I stuck around for the skewered ground beef and lamb (nice sauce but the meat was a little overcooked).  It was served with tasty spiced rice and grilled veggies.  But truly, the highlight was the Knaffa Ashta, served warm - it was a heavenly dessert!

This is just a foretaste of what we might expect on our upcoming trip to Istanbul - a variation on similar themes, no doubt - substitute an "a" for an "e" and it's the same dish, almost...

Love that water jug!

Pickles

Combination platter of humus, babaganuj, tabule and falafel

Skewered chicken breast, tender and moist, served on rice and grilled vegetables

Kefta Banadura - skewered ground beef and lamb

Knaffa Ashta - angel hair filo topped with custard and topped off with rosewater syrup