Modern Meze

Meet at: Arabica Bar & Kitchen, 3 Rochester Walk, London, SE1 9AF

Class Type: Hands on

Meze, sometimes spelt Mezze, is derived from the Arabic word t’maza, meaning ‘to savour in little bites’. It’s the ultimate sharing food. Each small dish provides a different taste and textural sensation, making the experience of eating healthy food a constant, joyous adventure.

Your guide on this culinary adventure will be self taught chef and founder of Arabica, James Walters.

The format:

The morning will start with warm pastries and Turkish coffee at Arabica Bar & Kitchen.

Followed by a whistle stop tour of the market, where James will pick up some seasonal produce from a handful of their favourite stalls to be incorporated into the cooking session.

Then its off to The Cookhouse which overlooks the buzzing Market, where you will produce an array of seasonal meze dishes featuring some of Arabica's larder essentials like Freeke, preserved lemons, sumac, pomegranate molasses and Za'atar.

The day concludes with an informal meal, enjoying the food you’ve cooked, served with Cretan wine and Levantine inspired ice-cream sundae

Example Recipes:

Whipped Feta - with Yemeni-style green Zhug and toasted sunflower seeds

Babaganoush- With saffron yogurt, pomegranate molasses, parsley, mint, pine nuts

Summer vegetable Freeke - Smoked green wheat, charred artichoke, broad beans, mint, dill, toasted almonds

Courgette & Feta Borek- Baked, filo pastries filled with shaved courgette, feta cheese and dill and egg washed with poppy seeds.

Chicken wings- Lebanese 7 spiced yoghurt, lemon, oregano

Cretan dakos salad - Vine tomatoes, barley crispbread, black olives, feta cheese, oregano