When searching for Lebanese cuisine in the Denver area, numerous options appear on Google. Among them, a few of the restaurants in the Golden area that I was familiar with and that have inspired my practicum. Although I am familiar with Lebanese food, I have not explored the cultural significance of the cuisine in depth. As a result, I decided to visit two different restaurants, one of which I was familiar with, and the other, I was not. My first stop was Amir Grill, one of my local favorites. While dining there, I noticed the absence of cultural decor and ambiance. It felt like I was in a typical American restaurant, with popular music playing softly in the background. However, the food was authentically Lebanese, and the shawarma was bursting with flavor, with the warmth of the spices coating the chicken. The shawarma wrap was accompanied by well-seasoned French fries, which are not typically Lebanese but have become a popular side dish with the shawarma wrap. Upon examining the rest of the menu, I noticed other dishes that are not authentic Lebanese cuisine, such as pizza and burgers. It seems like the restaurant is trying to provide American cuisine options for customers who are not interested in trying Lebanese food.
During my interviews, I visited Laziz Ya Lebanese, a local food truck that travels to different breweries around Denver. The owner, Siham Halime, is a Lebanese immigrant who settled in the Denver area years ago. After moving to Denver, she began to miss the food of her home country. Siham grew up with well-prepared food in Lebanon, and she was disappointed with the food options available in Denver. This inspired her to open a food truck to share authentic Lebanese cuisine with people. Siham ensures that she is making and preparing food traditionally without any shortcuts. She prepares everything by hand, following her mother's recipes that she grew up with. She buys fresh ingredients frequently, sometimes daily, to ensure freshness and quality taste. Siham does not compromise on authenticity, even if customers suggest other ways of preparation.
One of the challenges she faces is that some customers complain that the food takes too long to prepare. They are used to typical American fast food and do not realize that everything is made to order. However, once they try the food, they appreciate the flavors and stop complaining. Although Siham promotes and makes authentic Lebanese food, she has not been involved in Lebanese cultural events. This is partially due to her experience at the Taste of the Middle East event in Englewood, CO. Although the event brought together a group of people passionate and interested in trying Middle Eastern food, it did not fully support the restaurants that provided the food. After talking to Siham about her experience, it seems that what makes authentic Lebanese food is the time and effort put into making a dish. Following traditions and her mother's recipes are essential to the dishes she serves to her customers. After talking with her, Siham recommended that I try the chicken shawarma plate with baba ghanouj, tabouli salad, pita bread, rice, and toum. This dish is her personal favorite, and I can see why. The freshness of the tabouli salad and the richness of the marinated grilled chicken elevated the dish to a new level. Every part of the plate was carefully prepped with attention to detail. While the chicken shawarma tasted the way I expected from my research, Siham did not use an open-fire rotisserie to cook it. This may be due to the small cooking space available in the food truck. However she was able to adapt and still make an authentic tasting shawarma. Overall, Lebanese food in Denver has authentic roots in the people who prepare the food. While many places may serve Americanized Lebanese food, authentic restaurants can be found with a little research.
Laziz Ya Lebanese may be just a food truck, but it offers customers an opportunity to savor delicious Lebanese food. Siham is dedicated to crafting good food to share with people and refuses to take any shortcuts in the process. Her emphasis is on taking the time to prepare everything freshly, ensuring the best quality and taste. In the food industry, we often see cooks who strive to make their food the best it can be, treating cooking as a form of art that they can share with others. Siham's art form consists of following the recipes she grew up with, using only fresh ingredients, and infusing her passion into every dish she prepares. While she follows the traditional method of making Lebanese dishes, she also incorporates her own personal touch, making her food authentically hers. As previously mentioned, Siham's desire to open a restaurant to introduce well-made Lebanese food to the Denver area highlights the importance she places on making good food. Her attention to detail and commitment to quality made me see authenticity in a new light. Her food is authentic not only because it is traditionally prepared, but also because it is a unique expression of herself. This combination of tradition and creativity produces food that is truly authentic and delicious. It shows that authenticity in food can come from both following traditional methods and from the passion and personal touch of the cook. Laziz Ya Lebanese offers customers a truly authentic culinary experience, one that is both traditionally rooted and personally inspired.
If you want to visit either restaurant please click each link to go to the restaurants website for more information.
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