The Ultimate Palestinian Feast Is Served at This Brooklyn Restaurant | Hungry For More

Owners Abdul Elenani and Ayat Masoud opened their restaurant Ayat serving up hearty Palestinian dishes that are large enough to feed a family. Ayat, who grew up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, always dreamed of introducing her community to the traditional Palestinian dishes she ate within her home. While Middle Eastern street food flavors - such as shawarma, kebabs, falafel, and hummus - are popular in their neighborhood, some of the more traditional Palestinian and regional recipes she loves are less well known. The nostalgic recipes, which she learned from her mom, include dishes like mansaf - made with lamb that is cooked in a fermented yogurt and served over saj bread and rice and garnished with almonds and parsley.

Check out more of First We Feast here:

First We Feast videos offer an iconoclastic view into the culinary world, taking you behind-the-scenes with some of the country’s best chefs and finding the unexpected places where food and pop culture intersect. #HungryforMore #mansaf #PalestinianFood

[yaraashhab]

I just want to thank first we feast for this video and the awareness they are bringing to different cultures especially the Palestinian one. As a Palestinian it is very hard to see your culture being represented and especially in a very heartwarming way. thank you again for this I'm gonna go eat mansaf now <3

[spiderman]

I actually went to law school with Ayat and it's so cool to see that she has a restaurant! Congrats Ayat!

[beau-urns]

Getting her mom's input on the food is key. Middle eastern moms have magic in their fingertips

[nunyaflippingbidness]

Her Mama's smile is so genuine and inviting. It reminds me of my Mom's smile. I would do anything to make her laugh and smile, simply because when she did, it lit up my whole universe to see her happy. Rip Mom, holidays are so hard without you.

[brysonmesser]

Love how they raise their own livestock ❤️

[shigh]

Learning about all these different cultures is what makes the world awesome. Really makes you appreciate how truly amazing this world is

[wulfd]

Please do more ethnically oriented segments. I love foods from around the world.

[GunBreaux]

This family is the American dream. Such a fascinating blend of American farmer, immigrant entrepreneur, and Levantine flavor! I applaud them!

[Jess]

I didn't actually know the full reason behind the halal process, only that it involved all the blood going out. Now i know and have even more respect. Would love to try this food one day

[moeram]

Thank you for posting this, coming from a Palestinian I love seeing my culture being shared, the Palestinian culture is beautiful for what it truly is, not what people are making it out to be.

[graefx]

I've got friends from Jordan and "come come, eat eat" immediately made me think of them. Even if it was just coffee, you'd be made a cup before you could respond.

[cumannach]

This reminds me alot of the Italian side of my family, you gather in a big group with a shared dish, you eat you share stories and you dance and sing,
Palestinian culture and people are beautiful and vibrant and kind.

[DomBogey]

I'm Macedonian, her mom reminds me of my grandmother. All about family, cooking and eating! Super cute

[hasnaashaalan]

I do pray from the deepest of my heart that Palestine will be free and all Palestinians in the diaspora like Ayat will be able to return home.

[fartmanny]

What an absolutely beautiful video, this video is humanistic and personal and a great exposure of the Palestinian cuisine and identity ❤🇵🇸

[AnimeCleetus]

This is beautiful! Mom is filled with so much joy and spirit ❤ this whole video fills my heart. These have been such heartbreaking times, but finding bits of Palestinian music, food, and culture even just through my screen has been so impactful.

[sakkarabeirre]

Beautiful story, beautiful people and culture. I'm taking a ride to Bay Ridge to eat there, soon!

[MohammadAbuHammad]

I love everything about this video, all power to you guys.

[MrMonkeyTwinz]

My dads from Jerusalem and made me Mansuf just last week. Growing up he would make this food all the time! Its so amazing

[damon]

What a heartwarming and beautiful story. So many different facets of your lives here, the farming, the dancing, the incredible food!