"The Druze are an ethnic group united by their religion who dwell in several Middle Eastern countries, including Israel and Lebanon. New York City is lucky enough to have a restaurant that represents the cuisine. At Gazala’s Place in Hell’s Kitchen, named for chef-owner Gazala Halabi, many of the dishes will sound familiar to anyone who’s been in a Middle Eastern restaurant in NYC, but what comes out is less ubiquitous. The boureka here are much bigger and look more like giant pretzels than the tiny triangle-shaped ones around town, though they’re still flaky and savory. Pita, too, aren’t fluffy pockets but rather thin, stretchy things made on-site over a dome. It’s chewier, and a fantastic accompaniment to the rest of the menu." - Robert Sietsema
