@speeny: I hate eggplant normally, but I loooooooooooove baba ghanoush. Something about the smokey-creamy-chunky flavor and texture of it. It has all the richness of a cream-based dip (like a cheese dip or artichoke dip or french onion dip) without the guilt because it's basically just vegetables (and tahini).

I think it's one of those things I could always snack on and never get tired of. Baba ghanoush and some warm pita. Yum.

Pretty easy to make. Highly recommend roasting the eggplant over coals so it get's a bit of smoke and char flavor to it, but you can roast under the broiler or over an open flame on the stove.

Homemade.

Not to sound like a snob, but I am a good cook and was a chef for a while, as is my mom. And my sister for that matter. Between the three of us (and my brother-in-law, who is great with the BBQ) we make some good eats.

I'm generally let down with restaurant food because I can make better at home. I eat out and just try to appreciate the service, and I always appreciate the food and the effort. I don't sit there in misery, and I do enjoy it...it's just sort of a feeling of "Wow, this wasn't bad, but I've done better."

This is why every time I find a place to eat that I love, it feels like such a victory. And they're usually smaller, cheaper places too. For every 20 bland Mexican restaurants, you might find one or two good places that actually know how to season and make off-menu items for people that know.

Love me some kafta or some Lebanese grilled chicken! Hope they open up soon; niche cuisine like that needs to be available to eat for people, expand their horizons.

And they make that amazing garlic whip stuff! OMG so good. Apparently it's just garlic and oil that pureed with the right technique that the oil in the garlic makes this emulsion and it stays fluffy like that. Thought it was mayonaise the first time I had it, but when I tried some NOPE! Spicy raw garlic whip haha