Shiraz Armenian Cuisine | Page 4 of 6

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

I’m a frequent lunch patron at Shiraz Armenian Cuisine and love their menu (though I tend to always order the same thing), but I’ve only been once for dinner, and it was a while ago so it was nearly my first time here for dinner. Our “Foodies dinner” went at a good slow pace, and our waitress was patient, attentive, very pleasant, and eager to tell us about the menu items, some of which we had never heard of. The atmosphere was friendly, clean, and comfy, so I settled in for a cozy dinner with friends. With dietary limitations, I usually stick to something very basic, and then ask the server if the chef can modify it. Though I tried something new to me on this night, I didn’t ask for any modifications, in part to see if the menu description would match what appeared on the table. Happily, my dish was exactly as described – eggplant and chicken kebob on a skewer with rice and simple roasted vegetables – all things my overly sensitive dietary tract can easily tolerate. I was going to play it super safe and just get the chicken kebob, but I chose the eggplant chicken kebob combo because, in my culinary experiences, eggplant can be one of those litmus test foods, like brussel sprouts – if cooked properly, they’re fantastic, but if cooked poorly, they’re barely edible. This eggplant was cooked perfectly – my Italian “foodie” mother would have raved – and delicious. It was a terrific complement to the grilled tender chicken, and I was able to savor all of the flavors and add in sautéed green beans along with half a roasted tomato and half a roasted green pepper, which were probably added for presentation, but were yummy nonetheless. I ate most of my meal but had to bring some home (still good for lunch the next day). All in all, excellent meal, fantastic service (we were not hurried in the least and our server was very sweet and helpful), and a very fun evening. -NM

Tag: Shiraz Armenian Cuisine

Kibbee Plate

Eggplant Kebob with Chicken