Glossary

		Baguette (French for "little stick") is a variety of bread distinguishable by its much greater length than width, and noted for its very crispy crust. A standard baguette is five or six centimeters wide and three or four centimeters tall, but can be up to a meter in length. Shorter baguettes are very often used for sandwiches.
		Baklava is a rich, sweet pastry featured in many cuisines of the Middle East. It is a pastry made of layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts, usually walnuts or pistachios, and sweetened with sugar or honey syrup and at Spices Mediterranean Kitchen it is served with vanilla bean ice cream.
		Bourekas is made out of puff pastry filled with various fillings with the most popular filling being cheese. Bourekas come in several shapes, which are usually indicative of their fillings. Cheese Bourekas usually come in right angled and isosceles triangles but since we only serve cheese bourekas at Spices Mediterranean Kitchen they come in sliced rectangles.
		Falafel is a fried ball or patty made from spiced fava beans and/or chickpeas. Falafel is usually served as a sandwich wrapped in pita bread. Along with the falafel balls, which may be crushed onto the bread or added whole, topping variations are usually included. Falafel balls may also be eaten alone as a snack or served as part of a mezze.
		Grana refers to a class of hard, mature cheeses from Italy which have a granular texture. The two best-known examples of grana are Parmigiano-Reggiano and Grana Padano.
		Gyro is a Greek fast food; it is a kind of meat roasted on a vertical rotisserie. By extension, gyros may refer to the pita sandwich it is often served in, with various salads and sauces. The most common fillings are tomato, onions and tzatziki sauce. At Spices Mediterranean Kitchen it is served with rice or French fries.
		Halloumi is a cheese indigenous to Cyprus. It is traditionally made from a mixture of goat's and sheep's milk, although some halloumi can be bought that also contains cows' milk. The cheese is white, with distinctive layered texture, similar to mozzarella, and a salty flavor. It is stored in its natural juices with salt-water.
		Hummus or hummus bi tahi (also spelled hamos, houmous, hommus, hummos, hummous or humus) is a dip made of ground chickpeas, sesame tahini, lemon juice, and garlic.
		Labni Cheese (also spelled Labne, Labaneh, Lebnah) is a white Middle Eastern yogurt cheese made from sheep, cow, or occasionally goat milk. It has a consistency between that of yogurt and that of cheese, and has somewhat of a paste texture. In order to keep it for longer, it can also be allowed to dry and harden further, then formed into balls and preserved in olive oil. Usually served with olive oil and fresh mint.
		Malawach, or malawah, is a Jewish bread that originated in the Jewish Diaspora. It is a common staple of the Jews who were liberated from Exile in Yemen. Malawach resembles a crepe, and it is made up of hundreds of thin pancake layers.
		Mediterranean Salad is a mixture of fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olive oil, lemon juice and salt.
		Pita (also called pitta or pita bread) is a round, wheat flatbread made with yeast. Pita is traditional in many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines. The original pita is cooked flat without any rising. This type is the most well known and universal type.
		Shawarma (also spelled Chawarma, Shwarma, Shawerma, Shoarma or Shaorma) is a Middle Eastern-style sandwich usually composed of shaved lamb, goat, chicken, turkey, beef, or a mixture of meats. Shawarma is a popular dish across the Middle East, and is consumed by many across the rest of the world as well. It is related to the famous gyros of Greece.
		Shish Kebob (also written as kebap, kabab, kibob) refers to a variety of grilled/broiled meat dishes in Middle Eastern cuisine. Kebobs usually consist of lamb and beef, though particular styles of kebob have chicken.
		Tahini is ground sesame seeds used in cooking. The Middle Eastern tahini is made of hulled, lightly roasted seeds. Tahini is a major ingredient in hummus bi tahini. It is sold fresh or dehydrated. Tahini-based sauces are common in Arabic and Israeli restaurants as a side dish or as a garnish, usually including lemon juice, salt and garlic, and thinned with water. Tahini sauce is a popular condiment for meat and vegetables in Mediterranean cuisine.
		Tzatziki is made of strained yoghurt (which in Greece and Turkey is usually made of sheep's or goat's milk), cucumbers (either pureed and strained or seeded and finely diced), sometimes onion, and garlic for taste. It is one of the standard components of the Greek gyros.
		Za'atar is a popular mixture of spices that originated in the Middle East. In Arabic, Zaatar refers to Thyme. Green za'atar mixture is traditionally composed of dried thyme, toasted white sesame seeds, and salt. Red za'atar is made with dried thyme with the addition of sumac.

Home | Map | Menu | Glossary | Photos | About us | Contact