Kuti's - Harlem

Middle East via West Africa?
The best meals are the ones that teach, take me out of my comfort zone a bit and taste great. Puffin, you remember Abdul from Korhogo, right? No? Perhaps if I remind you of the bacon-wrapped scallops that you called "orgasmic?" Yeah, well, he's back. He's opened a small take-out spot in Harlem named after Fela Kuti. They offer shawarma, West African style, and some other intriguing fare. Shawarma was brought by the Lebanese to West Africa and now Abdul's brought it to NY.

Topoly - Paris

Man'ouché - Otherwise Known as Lebanese Pizza?
This food blogging hobby is pretty fun. I've been doing it a while now, picking places to eat that interest me or the Puffin. Readers have started to make suggestions too, which is cool because I'm introduced to food I never would've found otherwise. Topoly is a case in point. It's a Lebanese restaurant in the 6th, suggested by commenter Hamster, who convinced me to get a Man'ouché (man-ooo-shay), which appears to be their specialty.

La Goulette - Paris

Just the Fries, Please
Sometimes laziness gets the best of me. Ok, truth be told, sometimes ambitiousness gets the best of me, the rest of the time I am lazy. Tonight was no exception. I picked a small Tunisian cafe for dinner because it is directly across the street from my hotel.

L'As du Falafel - Paris

Falafels in the Heart of Paris
Puff and I are here in Paris, reading through many Paris food blogs to find places to eat. L'As du Falafel (Ace of Falafel) is recommended in many of the blogs. It is only a 5 minute walk from where we are staying in the 4th Arondissement, so we decided to check it out. It is located on a tiny, medieval street called Rue de Rosiers in the Marais district. The tabletops carry their trademark.

Rafiqi's

Middle Eastern Comfort Food?
It is a cold, windy, gloomy day in the Apple. Fall is here, winter is around the corner, summer is 33 months away, life sucks, etc and so forth. Time for a little bit of comfort, no? Not hot chocolate and smores (though, as I write - that seems like a great idea) but my favorite street meat from Rafiqi. Hey, Puff - do you even know what a smore is?

There are a handful of Rafiqi carts, but I've only been to the one on Park Ave and 24th.

I love these guys - they are the model of efficiency. Join the line, order, pay, get your food in about 30 seconds, tops. In order, from left to right, you got the money guy, the chef and the sous-chef. Gentlemen, I salute you.

I went with my old standby: chicken on rice, with grilled onions and barbecue sauce. As far as I am concerned, they don't even need to throw in the "salad." Life is a little better now. I think I will make it.

Park Ave South, Between 23rd and 24th St.

Manhattan

Map it!