One of my favorite things about NYC is that you can almost travel the world via cuisine. (Still missing a really authentic Cambodian spot—if you find one, let me know!) So to kick off our ‘try new flavors all the time’ campaign, Tammy and I decided to hop over to Egypt, via Astoria. Kebab Cafe is tiny (maybe 12 seats), comfy, and chef focused. The owner/chef, Ali El Sayed, cooks right in front of you. Better, though, was the lack of reliance on menus. Sayed described some of his specials, learned we were going veggie-style, and then proceeded to serve us a true Egyptian feast.
My favorite was a beet salad with balsamic vinegar and dill. Beets have been getting a lot of positive press recently—they’re a true superfood. Then a suberb hummus/baba ganouj/falafel platter, a rice/vegetable dish, and every imaginable take on the combination of honey+dessert. We rolled back through the streets of Astoria, satiated. I only hope the food in Egypt is half as delightful…
