Middle Eastern Eats

We all love dipping into a plate of beautiful hummus, but this ubiquitous dish just begins to scratch the surface of everything that Middle Eastern cuisine brings to the table. Here’s a guide to finding a feast near you!

- Kate Woodbury

Bedu

Situated at the quieter end of Gough Street, this neighbourhood restaurant and bar is a real gem. Inspired by nomadic Bedouin tribes, Executive Chef Corey Riches has given his modern twist to traditional Middle Eastern dishes. The result? An enticing menu that’s ideal for sharing.

We went for the “Ask the Chef’” option (HK$390 per person), which kicked off with warm, soft, homemade flatbreads dusted with spices and accompanied by two dips: a silky labneh garnished with pistachio, and a generous serving of hummus. A delicious start!

I’m generally not a fan of eggplant, which takes pride of place on many Middle Eastern menus. So it was with some trepidation I tried the eggplant carpaccio. But the smoky, squishy aubergine garnished with crimson pomegranate was simply superb – I’m a convert! The roasted cabbage with black garlic labneh also hit the spot.

We then moved on to salmon kibbeh nayeh: soft marinated salmon chunks in a beetroot dressing with a sourdough crisp; it was a pleasant if a little underseasoned for our palates. Standout dish of the night went to the harissa-glazed chicken skewers sitting on black garlic labneh. They were succulent, with more smoky flavours, and positively singing with the harissa – the perfect bite!

To end, Turkish Kisses was a pretty plate of strawberries, watermelon and soft pillowy marshmallow; a fitting finale.

There’s an interesting wine list of French and Italian vintages, and the team at Bedu also serve some great Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails. My friend enjoyed the Red Sea ($95), an layered cocktail of rosemary syrup and red wine topped off with Ballantine’s scotch and lemon juice. And I loved the Princess ($105), a pretty pink strawberry vodka cocktail blended with blackberry and almond syrup.