Middle Eastern Food Near Disneyland

The Middle East, conflicted or misunderstood, too many of us. In this short journey, I will taste some amazing food and hopefully get a clearer view of this wonderful region, its people, and its culture. I am in the Kingdom of Bahrain a small Island nation nestled in the Arabian Gulf. First, off a little about Bahrain, we have Dubai and Abu Dhabi about an hour's flight away, It is connected to Saudi Arabia by a bridge, the population is about a million and a half. Bahrain has been a historical trading post for centuries, It is very diverse in its culture, religious freedom, and population. This is reflected in the food of which we are about to dive. Influences include Indian Lebanese, Egyptian, and other neighboring countries. Let's get started with some starters or Meza. Hummus is everywhere and delicious, Mutable and

Baba ganoush

with their creamy and smoky eggplant flavors are a must. Pickles, Olives, Vine-leaves,

TABOULEH

FATTOUSH

are just wonderful cold Meza with falafel, PB chicken livers, SAMBUSA, or maybe samosa to you, along with meat fueled bread make up a small selection of hot dishes. Just think, olive oil, sumac, fresh lemons, parsley, coriander, cinnamon, dried black limes, and sesame or with Smokey undertones. The capital of Bahrain is Manama. The first oil in the region was discovered in Bahrain in 1932. Bahrain has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, around 5,000 years ago, Bahrain was home to the Bronze Age civilization of DILMUN. You are more likely to see a Ferrari than a camel and yes before you ask women can and do the drive of course. I am yet to meet a man with multiple wives and talk about being a compact place, Bahrain is 161 times smaller than New York. Let's get tucked into some main courses. Rice is big and comes in many colors and flavors. MACHBOOS or

KABSA

is a fantastic rice and meat combination. It is usually chicken or lamb cooked with a highly seasoned rice, topped with dried fruits, nuts, and it's really really really delicious. We also have MANDI rice, BUKHARI rice, which is a famous Saudi Arabian dish, and Biryanis of course with their Indian connection. All are cooked in a different way and for sure do not taste the same. With MANDI the meat is generally boiled first with spices and the stock used to cook the rice with the meat then roasted with a distinctive charcoal aroma. With MACHBOOS or KABSA the meat is incorporated into the rice very much as a biryani. And BUKHARI rice is flavored in several ways and colors and is usually served with roasted or grilled chicken. BUKHARI rice is often served with SALATA Hara, a thin spicy tomato sauce. Of course, you will not find pork on the menu but chicken lamb, and beef are incredibly popular. We also have dishes like a quiz (QOOZI/GHOZI) think slow-cooked melt-in-your-mouth tender lamb just falling off the bone. Curries and stews are aplenty, Chicken, Lamb, Beef, Fish and Shrimp are all used. Generally stew such as

 NASHIF

are not as spicy as an Indian type curry but pack a punch with a more mild delicate flavor. Slow-cooked super tasty and eaten with bread.

MASHAW

or grills are to die for, this in my opinion is where Bahrain and all the surrounding countries win hands down. If you are a meat-eater and like a little spice, and excuse the pun, this is the Mecca of it all. The local streets at night are filled with wonderful charcoal barbecue aromas that really draw you in. Lamb chops, chicken, lamb, and beef kebabs sizzling on fire is for me just heavenly. Beef tikka in particular really gets me going, small pieces of beef marinated in black lemon are probably one of the best things I have ever eaten. Really you have to go a long way to get food this tasty.

SHAWARMA

they are super cheap and they are probably the closest thing that you could call street food. TAHINI or tahini and garlic sources in the mix make these bite-sized bad boys a must as a grab-and-go filler. It is hard to convey the importance of bread in the region, whether dipping, scooping, or filling bread is a must. Small hole-in-the-wall bakeries can be found everywhere, they are cheap and super fresh. Tandoor ovens running at supersonic speed and heat, churn out tons and tons of this beautiful stuff. As an Island you would think fish and seafood would be big, well you would be right. With fishing ports scattered around the Island, bringing in their catch, you can find amazing prawns, crabs, and an array of fresh fish.

HAMOUR

is a wonderful cod-type fish with a super meaty texture and should probably describe as the king of fish from the local waters. My particular favorite though is Safi, Safi fried with local spices is just super. It is small it is bony but it is delightful. As we've reached the end of my journey here in Bahrain, I thought we should have some coffee. Arabic coffee is usually much lighter than we find in the West and heavily spiced with green cardamom. Cloves and cinnamon can also be added to the mix and either way you'd like to take it. Just grab a few dates and perhaps a few sweets and like me, you will be super happy. Bahrain is small, compact, friendly, and diverse. As a historical trading post and still, up to this day, Bahrain is a multi-cultural melting pot, which in turn and over time has produced a beautiful mix of people and cuisine.