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You might say I eat like a horse, but that would be in terms of
manner, not quantity. I like to take my time and graze, relishing the
flavors. Nibbling a bit of this and that … resting … then nibbling some
more. Pasha Mezze is the perfect place for that.
Pasha is the Turkish word for Lord, and Mezze is a selection of
appetizers or small dishes, much like the word tapas. Loosely
translated – Lord of Appetizers. On a recent Thursday night, two fellow
grazers and I leisurely discovered our new favorite pasture.
The interior is warm and stylish, with its uptown brick walls
accented by expanses of terra cotta and cinnamon and colorful Turkish
upholstery on the comfy banquets. Pasha by day is bright and airy,
thanks to an abundance of plate glass windows. Nighttime transforms
Pasha into a romantic jewel box with flickering candles and soft music.
Our friendly waitress, Regan, talked us through the unfamiliar terms
on the menu and guided us to Pasha’s Signature Sampler ($14) with
crispy homemade bread. The muhammarah – homemade organic red pepper
paste combined with walnuts, spices and extra virgin olive oil – was to
die for and disappeared way too fast. The red lentil pate was our least
favorite as it has the consistency and blandness of refried beans. The
hummus was the best we had ever tasted. It was a silky smooth and light
puree of chickpeas, tahini, spices and olive oil. The fried zucchini
cheese puffs were crispy and moist. The sirkonto zucchini was not as
interesting as the others as it was merely an oily slice of zucchini
with an almond on top.
We also ordered the Salad Sampler ($14) and got to choose five from
a list of 12 meats, grains and vegetables. We opted for the chicken
curry salad (all I can say is wow), the smoked salmon (perfect), the
grilled chicken (moist and slightly smoky slices of heaven), the
tabouli (divine) and the kale salad (tasty greens to pair with the
other proteins).
We tried to order the cheese tray, but they were out of some of its
items. We opted for the slow-cooked tender lamb chunks ($9.90) . The
lamb and its accompanying jasmine-orzo rice was moist and flavorful,
but we would have liked a dab of mint jelly .
They offer a varied wine and spirits menu, but we chose to enjoy our
meal with the Turkish tea ($2), a fragrant, warm tea served in a little
hourglass with a container of organic agave nectar .
We decided to have our desserts under the stars out on the patio. We
shared the rice pudding ($5) and the lemon cake ($5) and found them
delicate and delectable.
We decided that small portions of delicious foods, enjoyed
unhurriedly among friends, is the only way to go. Pasha rocks my
grazing world. (If you are a fan of Internet-friendly coffee shops, try
the Pasha Coffeehouse with homemade pastries and organic coffees. It’s
a hidden gem of a place to work on your laptop, put together a puzzle
over a Turkish coffee with friends or sit outside and watch the clouds
roll by.)
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