felafels

Ok...where are the best felafels in Atlanta? I haven't had a felafel in 30 years since making a trip to Israel. Can't wait to down a good one.

Bill O'Reilly knows about falafel.

quote:

Originally posted by GordonW

Bill O'Reilly knows about falafel.

Doesn't Dick Cheney's daughter know something about Lebanese specialties?

quote:

Originally posted by Willly

quote:

Originally posted by GordonW

Bill O'Reilly knows about falafel.

Doesn't Dick Cheney's daughter know something about Lebanese specialties?

Does that mean something?

quote:

Originally posted by Marc4022

Ok...where are the best felafels in Atlanta? I haven't had a felafel in 30 years since making a trip to Israel. Can't wait to down a good one.

One of my favorite food memories is the falafel at the small places on the streets in Israel.

Although I don't know the falafel availability in Atlanta, I'll talk about a place in Austin. The Phonecia Bakery in south Austin (on Lamar) makes a really good falafel ball, but they serve it like a burrito, and the sauce is like what you would get on gyros.

Not what I would like, but better than nothing. Much better, though, served in pita with all those choices of fillings!

I have to tell you, it's been a long time since I was last in Austin -- a very long time -- but I cannot imagine that there would be any place there that would have falafel. Heck, I'm still amazed that there was one Italian restaurant on 6th.

Hello All,
Once again I must admit my ignorance. What is a falafel?
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

Falafel is a deep-fried ball of ground chickpeas (sometimes fava beans, too) mixed with cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, pepper, either cilantro or parsley, and sometimes bulghur wheat. It ranges from about the size of a ping pong ball to somewhat smaller.

The classic presentation is one or two balls in a pita, with a chopped vegetable salad and a sauce made of tahini (sesame paste) and lemon.

It's delicious, filling, and quite addictive. You can buy a fairly good mix from Near East, add water, and fry up a batch. Get very fresh pita, and chop tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley and onions to stuff in the pita with it. I add fresh chopped cilantro to the Near East mix. Make sure you dry it well , or it will make the batter too watery.

Try it. Awesome stuff. A little hummus with the falafel is a must!

Hello All,
Thank you, Poundpod. It sounds tasty.
Something you could munch on as a snack or have as whatever it was intended to be.
Sorry, I didn't mean the last part of my last sentence to sound dumb, but I am a
snacker, and this sounds great as something I can munch on when I'm a little hungry,
but don't want to pig out.
Thank you, again.
Take Care,
Fieldthiste

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:

Originally posted by Willly

quote:

Originally posted by GordonW

Bill O'Reilly knows about falafel.

Doesn't Dick Cheney's daughter know something about Lebanese specialties?

Does that mean something?

Poundpod, My vegetarian mom makes this often, she uses the same spices you do, however she drains canned chick peas and mashes them with a potato masher.
Form into patties, fry in a little olive oil and serve dressed as you said, in a toasted pita bread.
These are not that hard to make, and taste really good.
Try making your own Marc! really good.

Hello All,
Adjudicator, great photo, but it I found it arousing, as well as tasty looking. (God, forgive me)
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

"...but it I found it arousing, as well as tasty looking."

And Freud would say...

Props to you Marc4002 for starting a topic on falafal. I love Middle Eastern food, nothing better a a nice Falafal sandwich with a side of huumus or baba ganoush. Also, try the Shawarma if you run across it. If unfamilar it is smilar to gyros in that it is cooked on a spit but the taste is much different. I am not a red meat eater so I always get the chicken version and it is awesome.

If you are ever in the Chicagoland area check out Pita Inn for a terrific and cheap Middle Eastern meal. The location in Skokie also has a bakery/deli next door where you get fresh pita, hummus, etc to go.

Can't say anything abourt Atlanta, Austin or Chicagoland but in NYC, the best falafel in the world is available at Moshe's Falafel, a cart set up on 46th street off 6th avenue (that's Avenue of the Americas to you tourists!) Nothing beats a Moshe's falafel!

It was featured on our very own roadfood here:

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=2192

quote:

Originally posted by Fieldthistle


Adjudicator, great photo, but it I found it arousing, as well as tasty looking.

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