In Chicago, I love Semiramis and Nazareth Sweets.  The falafel special sandwich and the baklava form the basis of an initially healthy but finally indulgent meal.  While delicious, the options are generic.  Our main food discoveries in Boston have been Middle Eastern (broadly defined!).  The Armenian takeout we had a friend’s house had the usual hummus and babaganoush.  The dish that was spectacular and totally new to me was a pomegranate, chili and walnut mush  (I think it is called mouhamara).

And then last night, we went to Oleana.  What a revelation.  Greek, Turkish, Lebanese…etc. etc.  All represented and modified till the cuisine achieved a different level.  Everything was good.  The whipped feta with peppers, zucchini pancakes (I could have done with less haloumi) and finally the fideos – I’d never had them in a restaurant, have tried to cook them (the Zuni cookbook has a recipe I tried) and never knew how they should be.  Now I know.  Not sure if I will reach Oleana’s heights on this dish but at least I know what to aim at.  My wife enjoyed her lamb and eggplant dumplings and sausage.  We didn’t have room for desert.  Can’t wait to go back.