One of things I have come to appreciate about growing up in Wichita is its multicultural diversity.
Among the various ethnic communities, the Lebanese community is one of the oldest and largest and its influence is very apparent around the city. Especially when it comes to the Mediterranean restaurants in town. It was here that I developed my taste for hummus, shwarma, and fattoush. To this day, when ordering these dishes at Mediterranean restaurants, I always seem to judge them based on how they compare to their Wichita counterparts.
Well I certainly wasn’t going to pass up a chance to sample the cuisine again when I was visiting my parents recently.
The Mediterranean Grill seems to be a new favorite of my parents, as we’ve gone there each time I’ve visited home. I have to say, it’s becoming one of my favorites too.
I mean, how do you stand a chance when they bring you a basket of these sweet biscuits soon after being seated?
Being the hummus whore that I am, I convinced everyone we needed to order the hummus for an appetizer. I love that they bring out both pita chips and pita wedges for dipping:
There’s just something about freshly prepared hummus. I can’t stay out of it. The hummus here was thick, creamy, and garlicky. Perfect!
Now I’ve said before that I’m not a salad kind of girl. However, fattoush salad is something I will gladly eat every day, but it has to be the fattoush salad that is found in Wichita. I’ve tried them elsewhere, but they just don’t taste the way the ones in Wichita do.
For those of you who haven’t had fattoush salad, think of it as similar to Greek salad — lettuce, tomatoes, feta, olives, onions, and shards of crispy pita chips, all tossed together in a tart and tangy vinaigrette type dressing. I think what distinguishes the Wichita version is the bits of dill pickle mixed into the salad and the dressing (which I think contains pickle juice, but I could be wrong!).
I ordered my fattoush salad with grilled chicken and it was perfect. I really could eat this every day. I just need to figure out that damn dressing.
I guess in the meantime, I’ll just have to visit home more often! 🙂
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That looks so good. I’ve never been to MG–another place for me to try! I agree with you about the fattoush–it is delicious everywhere I go in Wichita, and not quite the same elsewhere. But I have a palate of tin, so I could never tell you exactly what the difference is.
Yes there are fattoush and then there is fattoush of the Mediterranean Grill in Wichita. Lemon juice is used quite a bit in the cuisine of the Lebanese and of course olive oil. i would start with these two as ingredients in the dressing and some pickles! Delicious and healthy too!!
I would die for the recipe for the biscuits!! If anyone can give me even something that compares to it I would be happy :o) (and yes, the fattouch was delish!)
Preston, I really, really want to attend the conference in Las Vegas so that I can meet you and see you work in person. I am working hard to make that happen. Bless you for being our mentor!
Legal segregation of public schools was problematic. Repeal the Civil Rights Act, let private housing discrimination prevail, and draw your school districts accordingly.
Cicaanya-Andreának boldog névnapot!!!Max, várom a croissant leÃrását, mert GYÖNYÖRÅ°EK!!!Milyen a véletlen: tegnap én is croissant-t sütöttem: Ausztriából beszerzett kész blundel(jól Ãrom??) tésztából…Nagyon szuper lett, persze a házi az igazi!!!Csak tudom, hogy irtó nagy munka, de ahogy elnézem a fotót , megérte!!Lilian