If you have a sweet tooth, you'll most likely enjoy
any day dedicated to delicious desserts. National Baklava Day is November 17,
celebrating the popular pastry that is common in Middle Eastern cuisines. According
to the National Day Calendar, baklava is a layered pastry dessert filled with a
selection of chopped nuts and cinnamon and finished with a drizzling of syrup
or honey. Baklava doesn't stop there—the dessert has been open to many
interpretations and made with different flavors. The wide variety of ingredients
in baklava desserts include chocolate hazelnut, walnuts, pecans, pistachios,
almonds, dates, fresh fruit, and many more. Whether someone is interested in
trying baklava for the first time or if it is a dessert favorite, here is a
list of locations where all can eat, celebrate, and appreciate a great dessert well
known for its amazing texture and flavor.
Lebanon's Café
Located
Uptown, Lebanon's Café is not only known
for a menu filled with delicious cuisine, but it also has a renowned reputation
as the #1 Middle Eastern eatery in New Orleans. Their extensive menu is filled
with favorites such as homemade hummus, kabobs, and chicken shawarma. For
dessert, Lebanon's has baklava that is declared to be baked to perfection and layered
with flaky filo pastry and tasty walnuts. Their menu also offers a mixed dessert
trio, complete with baklava, a lady finger pastry wrapped around nuts, and
their burma dessert with shredded wheat and pistachios, perfect for those
favoring nuttier desserts. Lebanon's Café is sure to provide an amazing Middle
Eastern food experience, with both dinner and dessert you'll love. 1500
S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 862-6200, lebanonscafe.com
Anatolia Mediterranean Cuisine
Anatolia is one New
Orleans's newest Mediterranean restaurants, and it aims to provide customers
with tasty, traditional Mediterranean flavors and dishes. Their menu has a host
of appetizers, entrees, soups, and sandwiches to soothe even the most immense
hunger cravings. Customers can choose from Anatolia's full three-course meal
options, with all entrées served with a side of hummus, rice, and salad. No
meal, however, is complete without Anatolia's homemade Turkish-style baklava.
Turkish baklavas are known for their pistachio filling, so pistachio-lovers can
rejoice and enjoy the layering of flaky pastry and crunchy pistachios that are sprinkled
throughout and on top of this delectable dessert. 3100 Magazine St., (504)
249-5454, anatolianeworleans.com
Albasha Greek & Lebanese Café
Metairie's favorite
Mediterranean restaurant is none other than Albasha Greek and Lebanese Café. Albasha offers authentic
Mediterranean dishes that are traditional family recipes for all to enjoy in
their relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Albasha's ingredients are locally
sourced to ensure fresh dishes are served to customers with no preservatives.
The preparation of their dishes comes from healthy recipes that are not only
good for the body, but taste good, too. Although desserts may not always get a
healthy rap, it's hard to go wrong with Albasha's baklava filled with a
selection of chopped nuts. Nuts are a good source of fiber and protein, so dare
to indulge a bit after your meal, with Albasha's sweet and appetizing baklava. 3501 Severn Ave #1, Metairie, LA, (504)
304-8441, albashametairie.com
Mona's Café Frenchmen
Located on New Orleans's famous Frenchmen Street, Mona's Café Frenchmen
has been serving Lebanese cuisine for over 20 years. From freshly made salads
to tasty vegetable, lamb, or chicken dishes, Mona's allows visitors to enjoy
delicious meals from their award-winning menu. Their desserts include nammura,
a treat made with wheat and almond, and, of course, their baklava layered with
walnuts. For Marigny or French Quarter residents, Mona's Café Frenchmen also
offers free bicycle delivery for customers to enjoy their flavorful dinner and
dessert in the comfort of their own homes. For super baklava-lovers, Mona's
Café Frenchmen even provides catering services of their dinner and dessert,
including a box of delicious baklava to share with friends and family. 504 Frenchmen St., (504) 949-4115, monascafefrenchmen.com
Gyro
Grill
Gyro Grill may be one of the few Mediterranean
restaurants that can be found on the Westbank, but it is still well known for
its made-from-scratch food and real Mediterranean flavors. Gyro Grill prides
itself on providing customers with homemade food from the best ingredients on Earth,
guaranteeing that all diners receive fresh, quality ingredients. Gyro Grill
offers gyros and gyro bowls with choices of lamb, beef, or chicken, alongside a
wide variety of sides, salads, appetizers, and more. For those wanting to skip
straight to dessert, the Gyro Grill menu includes a Number 14: baklava and
Turkish coffee, a combo that includes their homemade baklava accompanied with a
nice, freshly made cup of joe, Turkish-style. You can also opt for baklava on
its own, for those who can't get enough of the sweet dessert. 5201 Lapalco Blvd., (504) 205-7777, gyrogrillnola.com
