Where in the world have I been?! I've been busy with mainly schoolwork and cooking, and other work-y stuff, although laziness might be the culprit. Mainly I've been so wrapped up in 60's Star Trek, a strange muffin making binge and homework, that I haven't thought much about sitting down at the MacBook Air and writing yet another review for my faithful readers. It seems as though it was fifteen years since I last posted. But now I'm back, with a new, fresh, mouthwatering restaurant review. GET EXCITED!
I had planned the perfect Mother's Day. She'll get breakfast in bed, lunch out (with me paying, of course), spa treatment, and Creole Creamery! The day, in general, went smoothly. Preparing breakfast for my mother, I made molasses muffins with flaxseed and dates, with hot coffee and strawberries on the side. Next we watched four episodes of America's Test Kitchen, and the rest of the morning slid on by. For our lunch out, we had decided the night before that we were going to a Middle Eastern restaurant called Lebanon's Cafe. The place has been there a while. Heck, I remember sitting in there beside Mom when I was five years old eating tabouleh! And I, of course, do not remember that
particular meal. So it was time for a fresh start!
I drove Mom to Lebanon's at noon, with growling stomachs and high expectations. I was looking forward to falafel, spanakopita, baba ghanoush, and hummus, while Mom's mouth watered for lentil soup and tabouleh. We pulled up to the curb and ran across the streetcar tracks to the cafè.
Mom wisely observed: "Mother's Day lunch is one of the most popular times of year to go to a restaurant, so expect the service to be a little slow." Okay, I accepted that. When I saw the hordes of old women and young women streaming in and out of the place, some with young, hungry whining children, some with adults on iPhones, I knew she was right. Every few minutes another pack of children and mothers and fathers would enter (usually it was a mother, a father, a grandmother, and three kids). Even through all this hubbub, we were seating prettily outside in the sunshine at a table for two and given our menus and silverware bundles and napkins. It was while before our pretty waitress could fight her way through the crowd back to our table to get our drink orders. Mom ordered the Famous Lebanon's Lebanese Iced Tea, while I chose plain Sweetened Iced Tea after hearing that the Mango Juice I was originally hoping for was gone. It was still quite good, though, and had a pleasantly sweet, floral flavor, as did the Lebanon's Iced Tea (the two were quite similar in flavor).
For our appetizers, we ordered the Chef's Special, an appetizer for two. On the vast plate there was hummus, baba ghanoush, labneh ( thick yogurt mixed with mint and drizzled with olive oil), falafel, tabouleh, and stuffed grape leaves. With this delectable shebang came a basket of warm pita bread. What a perfect way to begin! The hummus was unbelievably smooth textured, and had an excellent flavor of chickpea and tahini, with a perfect counterpoint of lemon. The baba ghanoush, which was slightly chunkier, had a positively divine roasted flavor, which made you want to eat it forever. And the labneh was possibly my favorite thing. The rich, tangy creaminess was pure ambrosia, with just a hint of fresh coolness from the mint, and drizzled with olive oil, on a piece of pita. MMMMMMMM!
For our main courses (we really just got a second appetizer), I got the spanakopita (my favorite Mediterranean dish), while Mom savored a creamy lentil soup. The spanakopita was just as delicious (and maybe just a little bit more divine than usual) as the other spanakopitas I've had in my restaurant reviewing, but it was a little different from the others by one step. Instead of just feta cheese with spinach as the filling (some places also use Greek yogurt), Lebanon's used ricotta in the filling. This gave the spanakopita a wonderful creamy touch, and it was no time at all before the pretty, crunchy, phyllo crusted triangle was down my gullet.
The lentil soup was also very fab, which its spicy creaminess, soft silkiness, and toasty lentil flavor. After our meal was completed, and the waitress came with the check, she left a tiny cup of Jordan almonds, which Mom and I crunched up happily in no time.
So if you need a great place to stop for lunch or dinner, and you love Mediterranean food, then swing by Lebanon's, and you'll get a Middle Eastern meal to remember, with great food, outstanding service, and relaxing ambiance! And so, dear readers, a last remark: HAPPY EATING! (I have to trademark that!)
