The Ultimate Palestinian Feast Is Served at This Brooklyn Restaurant

Overview

Owners Abdul Elenani and Ayat Masoud opened their restaurant Ayat serving up hearty Palestinian dishes that are large enough to feed a family. Ayat, who grew up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, always dreamed of introducing her community to the traditional Palestinian dishes she ate within her home. While Middle Eastern street food flavors - such as shawarma, kebabs, falafel, and hummus - are popular in their neighborhood, some of the more traditional Palestinian and regional recipes she loves are less well known. The nostalgic recipes, which she learned from her mom, include dishes like mansaf - made with lamb that is cooked in a fermented yogurt and served over saj bread and rice and garnished with almonds and parsley.