Mezze platters are one of the great delights of Mediterranean cuisine. These spreads of many small dishes are especially popular in the Levant, and the tradition has since spread around the globe. People love a mezze platter because it offers a small taste of many different dishes, letting you explore and discover which flavors you like best.
Courses made up of many small dishes are enjoyed all over the world. Tapas in Spain, for example, grew out of much the same idea as mezze: share a variety of textures and flavors without any one dish being so big that it fills you up. The name “mezze” even comes from a word meaning “a little bit,” a nod to the small portions.
Mezze dates back thousands of years. Across the ancient Mediterranean, offering mezze was a sign of hospitality, and hosts would sit and talk with their guests for hours over this light, shareable meal. That spirit of generosity and conversation is still at the heart of mezze today.
Different regions feature different dishes, but the idea is the same throughout the Mediterranean. A typical mezze platter might include:
How mezze is served varies almost as much as the dishes themselves. It may literally arrive on one large platter with every dish together. It can be served family style, with a small sample of each dish plated for every guest. Or it can be set out buffet style, with guests taking small plates and choosing from the dishes on offer.
Whatever the serving style, the idea stays the same: a wide variety of small dishes for guests to enjoy and socialize over.
If these historic and culturally significant dishes caught your attention, you can make your own mezze platter by gathering the traditional dishes listed above and arranging them together. It is an easy, colorful way to entertain.
If you love the idea of a mezze platter but would rather leave the work to us, bring your family to Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe on Clairemont Mesa Blvd and order one from our menu. You can try every dish and find out for yourself what you like. Mezze is also a fairly light meal or appetizer, so there is always room to follow it up with another favorite.
Planning a party, office lunch or family gathering? Mezze is a natural fit for events, and our catering team can take the workload off your plate while you and your guests enjoy a delicious meal together.
Mezze is an amazing way to eat, with a delicious selection of classic dishes to choose from. The next time you are looking for something special for guests, family or just yourself, stop by Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe in San Diego and share a mezze platter.
On the streets of Cairo, one of the most popular dishes you can order from a vendor is Hawashi. This minced meat stuffed inside of a pita is deceptively simple, but incredibly delicious. The thin bread of the pita combines with carefully seasoned meat to make a perfect, unique, sandwich.
After the food is combined, the food is then baked until the outside is golden, crisp and crunchy. This makes an extraordinary combination of flavors and textures while enjoying this food.
Compared to many other popular menu items, these delicious snacks have relatively modern roots. The sandwich only goes back about as far as the 1930s, with the earliest evidence of its existence a receipt selling one.
The receipt is somewhat disputed however, with some saying the sandwich was invented as late as the 1970s. Either way, this sandwich was invented less than 100 years ago, while many other popular foods can go back thousands of years.
What is known about this sandwich is that it was invented by an Egyptian butcher, either by the name of Mohamed al-Hawawshi or Ahmed el-Hawawsh. At some point, this man chose to combine meat, onions and seasonings with the super thin pita like bread called baladi.
Baladi is the colloquial word that simply means ‘rural bread.’ It’s typically used for things like falafel and mashed fava beans—not for slicing up as sandwich. He began selling these thin sandwiches anyway, which quickly took off in popularity.
While there’s no doubt as to how good they are, it’s not entirely clear why he put these ingredients together. Baladi is a very thin bread and is usually not used with fillers. It was an innovation at the time and is still highly popular in Egypt as well as around the world.
Why Hawashi Is So Loved
At a glance, Hawashi is similar to other foods like gyros. What makes Hawashi so special? Here’s a quick rundown of reasons that may be behind its popularity.
Both Crisp and Juicy
Hawashi is stuffed and then baked. The outside is golden and crispy, the inside is bursting with juicy meat. This combination of flavors and textures make it very popular.
Affordable
Hawashi is made with simple, affordable ingredients. This means it doesn’t have the high price tags of some of the fancier foods out there, while still being just as delicious.
Flavorful
Hawashi is carefully seasoned to be as delicious as possible. Seasonings vary depending on the shop. They can include chili seasoning, paprika and cumin. At Aladdin’s Mediterranean restaurant, roasted red pepper sauce is a key ingredient.
In some locations, the bread is cooked on a grill and has a smokey flavor as well. Grilling Hawashi is a popular choice, and can change the flavor depending on what sort of wood is used.
Conclusion
Hawashi is a beloved snack food in Egypt, and is sold nearly everywhere both by street vendors and restaurants. If you want to experience a taste of Egypt, stop by Aladdin’s and try this wonderful, unusual, sandwich.
There is a definite advantage to choosing reputable corporate catering for a special business meeting or presentation. The staff, servers, and chefs at Aladdin Café, located at 5420 Clairemont Mesa Blvd in San Diego, take great pride in presenting top quality Middle Eastern food at their restaurant or the meeting area you’ve selected. Tasty appetizers and entrees make a nice break from the speeches and workshops found at corporate events.
Hiring a good catering service lets you pay attention to the tasks you need to complete. Aladdin Café handles the planning and delivery of the meal. The menu includes Vegetarian food and Vegan food so that attendees find foods that appeal to their appetite and dietary restrictions. The advantage is that no one is obligated to leave the building to satisfy their hunger. A secondary benefit is the appreciation for your company for providing such a good meal!
Appetizers help spike the interest of meeting participants. One favorite is Dolma. The stuffed grape leaves are a Vegetarian favorite and part of a healthy diet. They are a medley of rice, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, and parsley. The mixture is rolled in grape leaves, steamed, and topped with lemon sauce.
Hummus is a popular appetizer and dip. This Middle Eastern food from Aladdin’s is a tasty blend of tahini, fresh garlic, garbanzo beans, and lemon. The 12-inch tray serves 8 – 10. If you’re expecting a large group, select the 18-inch tray that serves 25-30. Simply provide the guest list to the café catering experts. They will discuss how the food will be presented and how much of each item should be ordered. The delivery will live up to your professional expectations.
An enticing salad for each guest provides a satisfying meal. The chopped chicken salad is a favorite. It starts with chopped Iceberg lettuce. Slices of tomato and cucumbers add colorful appeal to the salad. Black olives, sun dried tomatoes, and Feta cheese are added along with pistachios. It is tossed with homemade Greek dressing and topped with carrots and sliced flame-broiled chicken breast.
Organized preparation, service, and cleanup provide a well-received meal and allow attendees to focus on the business agenda once the lunch break is over. Guests appreciate the special effort made to cater to their requirements, such as Vegan food. The success of the meal will likely be a main theme of conversations about the meeting for weeks to come and boost the reputation of your own company.