Back in 1993, celebrity Chef José Andrés got his start at the age of 23, when several DC-area restauranteurs invited him to open a tapas place, called Jaleo. Since then, his various establishments can be found in many major US and international cities.▫️
When we heard he had just opened a spot, called ZAYTINYA, at The Ritz-Carlton NOMAD, 25 West 28th Street (in Manhattan), we had to go.
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Now its website notes that the “menu reflects the rich regional diversity of classical Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisines.” It continues, “Often thought of as party food, the small plates style of dining encourages socializing - a drink, a little conversation, and a few mezze shared by friends and family.” And since we were in a party mood, we started with the “BABA GHANNOUGE — fire-roasted eggplant, tahini, lemon, garlic.” ($12).
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Like many other food items we’ve reviewed here, the origins of this dish are disputed. Some speculate it was invented in Egypt about 1000 years ago. Others think that the Arabs or Turks are the rightful originators. Whatever you choose to believe, it’s uncontroverted that it’s an extremely popular dish in the Middle East, and beyond.
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While hummus often shares the same color, texture, and consistency, and is also high in protein and fiber (with no cholesterol), this particular dish imparts an earthy flavor (thanks to the eggplant), while hummus offers more of a nutty taste (thanks to the chickpea). Our dish was incredibly smooth and silky. It was a true pleasure to consume.
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Even though some found it slightly overpriced ($15+ post-tax/tip) for the portion size, because the restaurant was exceedingly generous with freshly made (hot) pita, that certainly scored points with my group, yielding this dish an impressive “A-.”
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You might as well visit this place and take a dip!
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