Tag: grape leaves

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Kibbee Plate

Traditionally Lebanese, the Kibbee Plate from Shiraz Armenian Cuisine combined several Mediterranean delicacies, including the signature kibbee over rice pilaf, a hot grape leave stuffed with meat and rice, and cooling cucumber yogurt. Having never had kibbee, I was unsure of what to expect. Although it’s appearance seemed to be a dry, layered, meat stuffing, the consistency was anything but. The ground meat consisted of a wheat consistency with incredible seasonings of onions, green pepper, cinnamon, allspice, cumin, and basil. Reminiscent of an autumn meat stuffing, the combination of the kibbee with rice and jajek was filling and satisfying. -LV

The portion was huge, the rice was piled high with three large pieces of kibbee placed on top. The kibbee was moist and flavorful however I didn’t taste the lamb which was a disappointment. The pilaf was good, not dry. The grape leaves were made with rice and tomato, a combination I have never had, which I found tastier than the typical lemon flavor.  The jajek was yogurt with cucumbers, the cucumbers were fresh and crisp and the yogurt was cold and tasty, a great combination with the kibbee. Overall I would definitely go again to try another dish! -JV

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Lamb Shish Kebabs

Shiraz Armenian Cuisine, located on a bustling spot on Park Avenue can be easily walked past if one doesn’t know what to look for. If you blink, you just might miss this hole in the wall with great Armenian food. When I walked in, I didn’t quite know what to expect. It’s atmosphere reminded me of a cafeteria setup with tables and chairs in a long room that extends back to the kitchen. I had the luxury of trying the meat filled grape leaves and the babaganoosh before my meal started. The grape leaves were very mild and served with cool yogurt.The babaganoosh was very similar to traditional hummus but had a very distinct flavor about it. Both appetizers I would order again in a heartbeat. As for my meal, I decided to go with the lamb shish kebab. This dish had marinated chunks of lamb on a skewer, served with rice, sauteed vegetables and a salad. When the salad came out, it looked very ordinary until you took your first bite. The tangy vinegar based dressing was the perfect pairing to the crisp lettuce. The simplicity of this salad cannot be overstated, however, this was one of the better salads I had had out. When my meal came out, my lamb skewer was laying on a heaping mound of rice pilaf with crunchy sauteed veggies on the side. The lamb was paired with green onions and peppers on the skewer which were a nice sweet change of pace from the salty lamb. For personal taste, I would have had my lamb cooked a little less, some parts were chewy for me…but overall, the flavor and seasoning were on point. This is a place that I wouldn’t have necessarily sought out on my own, but after my meal there, you better believe it’s on my radar for future nights out in Worcester. -ED