Hey, want to meet up for some baba ghanoush, hummus, shish taouk and some mint tea?

[DFW]

Last night here in Dallas, I met up with the DU 7wo 7rees pair for dinner in a small Lebanese restaurant near where my old office used to be downtown. It was just a tiny, unfancy place, but with FABULOUS Lebanese food. Cheap, too! I can't believe I never knew this place was there all these years!

Afterward, they even drove me home, too (how's THAT for service?). My wife couldn't join us this time, since she left back for Germany after our time on Cape Cod.

Thanks again to the two of you for a wonderful evening!

From our May meet-up, just as a reminder of the cast of characters (my wife, on the right, was with us then):

[Diamond_Dog]

1. How nice!

Pleased to meet you all! (Well, I feel as though I already know Mr. and Mrs. DFW)

Nothing like good Dem friends and great Middle Eastern cuisine! Win-win!

[DFW]

3. No losers last night!

That's for sure

[Aristus]

2. Sounds wonderful!

I just love Mediterranean cuisine. I'm glad you had such a good time.

[DFW]

9. We did, thanks!

There is quite a bit of diversity in the Mediterranean. Catalan, North African, Lebanese, Greek, Balkan, Italian, with all its own diversity, Provençale, etc.

But Lebanese is definitely one my/our favorites.

[yellowdogintexas]

14. Fort Worth has a Lebanese-Italian restaurant!

One of the owners is Italian and married the Lebanese half. So the restaurant is a combo. They make really good pizza too. Buffet or menu

[DFW]

15. In a way

I’m almost glad you told me this after I left Dallas. I have already landed at Dulles and am now at my brother’s house in Northern Virginia.

Several decades ago, I was at a hotel somewhere in New Jersey (Cherry Hill?) that had a place called Ginsburg and Wong. It was a combination Chinese restaurant and Jewish deli. Now THAT was weird!

[7wo7rees]

21. Please do give the name of.....

Also, have you been to Al Wadi in Bedford on Brown Trail? We used to go there every Sunday........

[yellowdogintexas]

11. yes! It is wonderful - all varieties.

Since my daughter started seriously dating her (now) husband, we have become quite familiar with Persian versions of Middle Eastern food.

Her inlaws are Kurdish-Iranian and that food is amazing! Her mother in law is a very good cook too. She can serve up a terrific batch of felafels or kebabs too. Persian cuisine has a wide variety of stew dishes.

Sometimes she will make the rice with the crusty bottom (which if you have never eaten you must try it; I think it is unique to Iran) She has to make a LOT because everyone fights over it! Next time I am out there I need to get her to teach me how to make it.

LOL she has 4 kids, a husband, a son in law, a daughter in law, a potential son in law and often one of the kids brings someone in for supper so she has to make a gigantic pot of rice - like institutional kitchen size. Any leftovers are eaten during the day after.

My son in law is an athlete and he can consume "vast quantities" !!

[eppur_se_muova]

22. Heck, I can cook *anything* with a crusty bottom! But if you mean "kateh" ...

I've tried Googling for recipes, and also referred to my favorite cookbook, which describes making kateh as fairly simple, but requiring a certain amount of trial and error to achieve reproducibility. In it she cools the rice in a container partially full of water, something I don't see mentioned in the simple recipe above. Apparently the "trick" is getting the long, slow cooking stage just right, so a certain deft touch may be required.

[7wo7rees]

4. The name of restaurant is Open Sesame on Oak Lawn.

The food is truly delicious and the company was the best.
We enjoyed seeing you again and sharing some great Lebanese food with you.

[DFW]

5. Same here!

My wife MUST try this place next time she comes to Dallas!

[yellowdogintexas]

12. I will have to remember that should we actually go to Dallas ....

over here in FW we have Egyptian, Greek, a couple of generic Middle Eastern places and a Lebanese/Italian place. Love them all!..

[abqtommy]

6. K&R for the 3 out of 4 smiles!

[DFW]

7. My wife's smile has enough wattage to light up a subterranean cave

[abqtommy]

8. Yes indeed! You do not exaggerate. At all.

[Kali]

10. yum. heading your general direction in October (if still allowed)

need to have some federweisser.

[DFW]

17. Every time I think things will loosen up

Things move in the opposite direction.

My wife had no problems returning to Germany two weeks ago. I hope I get a similar pass when I fly back next Thursday. She flew via Amsterdam, whereas I’m flying via Paris. I hope it won ‘t be any different.

[Kali]

18. so far word is all good, but who knows a month from now?

think I might try the direct Lufthansa from Phx to Frankfurt.

[DFW]

19. I didn't even know there WAS a nonstop from PHX to Frankfurt!

Lucky you! For a while, there were nonstops from Düsseldorf to everywhere in North America, but that is over for now.

[Kali]

20. yeah it has been going for a couple of years

some other German friends who live here in AZ had the scoop. I haven't seen my friend since 2016 and I haven't been over there since 2013.

[yellowdogintexas]

13. Next time you plan a meet up of the Dallas DU folks let me know

If Delta has calmed down enough, I'd love to meet up and meet y'all.

[DFW]

16. Will do.

In Texas, we always have room for one more!