A Story of Middle East Bakery

What’s this in the air then, at Somerset and Percy? Why, it’s the aroma of just-out-of-the-oven pita loaves. The Middle East Bakery, owned by Lebanese couple George and Jacqueline Jaber, is a favourite of Canadians of all backgrounds. As well as bread, there’s a plethora of easy and fast food: rich pita pies with cheese and tomato; falafel; turnovers called fatayer; hommus (even spicy!); tabouli; and smoky baba ganoush. And that’s only the start. Of course, you could simply pick up a little nabulsi, for instance, a brined curd cheese speckled with black sesame seeds. Bread, then olives, and you’re good to go. Dessert? You know you can’t pass up the made-in-house baklawa, filled with walnuts. Certain days, you can find kurban, scented with rosewater, orange blossom water and mahlab—a spice made from the pits of certain cherries. This fine-crumbed, slightly sweet bread is quite the delicacy. 603-5 Somerset St. W., 613-238-7342.

 Business hours