If you want to try some Turkish customs and traditions, an easy induction is to drink a glass of Raki, the unofficial national alcoholic drink of Turkey.
Turks do have a few things to teach the world when it comes to the spices. Not every spice used in Turkish cooking originates from Turkey but it does not meat they has not acquired special place and use in Turkish cuisine.
Sami and Sonia Bejjani spent more than two decades behind the counter at Sami’s Lebanese & Middle Eastern Cuisine in Riccarton’s Windmill Centre until retiring at Christmas. The couple started the business soon after emigrating to Christchurch with three children in 1989, having been unable to find work in their professions and not wanting handouts […]
Food is life in a Lebanese household and sharing it is one of the greatest joys. There are a variety of dishes on the table, starting with small portions known as mezza that is mainly dips and salads. Lebanese food is one of the freshest and most delicious cuisine you will ever taste. Lamb is […]
Zaatar is a mix of thyme, roasted sesame seeds, sumac and salt. Mix zaatar with a little olive oil and serve as a dip or spread on flat bread. Some varieties may add savoury, cumin, coriander or fennel seed. One distinctively Palestinian variation of zaatar includes caraway seeds, while a Lebanese variety sometimes contains sumac […]
Luca is a fantastic chef, a regular food writer for Taste magazine, and currently features regularly on the Good Morning show on TV1.
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Invite the essence of Middle Eastern flavours into your cooking with Sami’s Kitchen premium spice blends. Since 1991, Sami’s Kitchen has been combining the finest ingredients with their passion for cuisine to create a blend of quality spices and traditional flavours. Sprinkle our authentic spice blends with your own recipes (or try our suggestions) and weave a mystic tale that captivates your tastebuds until the last bite.