Dinner @ArabesqueMelbourne which is a Jordanian restaurant so why not try their national dish, Mansaf: slow cooked lamb or chicken in jameed sauce over saaj and rice dressed with fried split almonds, parsley with sides soaked onion and jameed sauce.

An interesting looking dish is presented. A bowl of soup, a pile of rice oozing something, succulent lamb, split almonds, and red onions. The waiter explained that traditionally one empties the sauce (what I mistook for a bowl of soup!!!) over the rice, add the onions, and mix it all up. I had a taste of the sauce which is a little cheese like, it's actually from the fermented dried yoghurt which is what the lamb is cooked in and possibly the rice. The lamb is superb and just pulls apart. I love this sauce and the rice is fragrant, soft and just absorbs that delicious sauce without going soggy. First time eating Jordanian food and what a dish to eat! It is a heavy meal and true to the waiter's word, one does start to feel sleepy later on! Fortunately I had finished work! Excellent meal as well as the warm friendly service.

Another dinner visit to try the national dish of Palestine, Musakhan: slow-cooked chicken, onion, sumac on taboon with sides pickle & khiyar b’laban

This is such a unique dish, like nothing I've eaten before. Akin to a pizza, this Iraqi bread is thin, fried, slightly crunchy and yet soft, topped with caramelised onions, roasted slivered almonds, sumac, and slow cooked chicken that falls apart, and probably an array of spices. Tear a piece of the bread, ensure all ingredients are present and enjoy. Taking a bit of the yoghurt helps counteract the richness from the frying and there are also pickled green chillies for a little kick. Each bite is amazing and this is such an enjoyable meal, including excellent service, makes for an excellent experience.

Another dinner visit for mashawi: char-grilled lamb, chicken, kofta skewers with grilled onion, tomato, chilli and sides hommus, toum, salad & chips or rice.

A very generous and hearty meal, lifting the pita reveals a medally of meats and variety on the plate. I started with the lamb chop which was cooked perfectly and oozed smokiness and char flavour from the grill which is superb. Next was the chicken which also had its own unique char flavour and was tasty. A BBQ grilled onion adds sweetness and the same for the tomato intensifying the flavour. A charred chilli adds some kick. The hommus is fantastic, I couldn't get enough of it. The salad is much needed with that burst of freshness to counteract the meatiness on the plate. I enjoyed the kofta, soft, tender and less intense but allowing the flavours to shine through. The lamb was the only negative. While evoking smokiness, it was chewy and a bit of gristle. Despite that, I loved the dish and the flavours presented. Another fantastic dining experience.

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