And Now, Back to Our Story……….

When my sister visits, as she did this week, I live a more Jewish life-style by keeping kosher. To respect her religious beliefs, I bring out separate dishes, pots and pans… making the kitchen suitable for cooking within the Jewish dietary laws. When we go out to restaurants, we only patronize the strictly kosher ones that concentrate along Harvard Avenue in Brookline. My favorite is Rami’s.

Rami’s is the type of restaurant I would open if I ever decided to become a restaurateur. Not for the Israeli cuisine or the casual atmosphere; but because it’s a kosher restaurant that appeals to both Jews and non-Jews; people that adhere to the laws of kashrut and those who do not. My restaurant would be a fine dining, American cuisine restaurant called Dakos… as in: dairy kosher. No meat or shellfish would be served.

But back to reality and Rami’s… They serve Israeli street/café food: falafel, shawarma, and boureks (puff pastry filled with meat, potatoes or vegetables). I first went there with my sister several years ago, but now I’m there on my own every other month. I originally would just order the falafel, but soon discovered the Shawarma, and it was all over. 

Shawarma can be made with goat, lamb, or chicken. Rami’s uses turkey thigh meat, skewers it and roasts it on a spit. To order, they slice thin strips off the spit and then griddle it crisp. The allspice seasoning makes this version superior to others. Traditionally, the meat is wrapped in pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers, but at Rami’s you can also get it served on a bed of hummos. Either way, tahini sauce, sesame seed paste thinned with lemon juice and garlic, is drizzled on top; adding a layer of complexity in flavors.

And thus we conclude the series: My Ten Favorite Dishes…. With Rami’s Shawarma taking the #10 spot.

What are some of your favorite restaurant dishes?