A proper Turkish meal starts with the classic Mediterranean staple of hummus & bread. @mavirestaurant.sg housemade hummus ($12++) is served with what they call pita bread, but I’m convinced is pide bread, but none of it really matters when you’re busy whetting your appetite with this Middle Eastern classic.⠀
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The hummus was smooth but quite stodgy, with the blend of chickpeas, lemon juice, tahini & olive oil combining to make a dip that’s perfect with anything. It was charmingly creamy, and seasoned quite satisfactorily, making it a delightful dip to pair with the bread.⠀
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I am an avowed disdain-er of eggplant, but Mavi’s breathtaking Babaganoush ($12++) had me hooked at the first bite. The awesome Ali Nazik was using this exact same smoked eggplant purée, and it was utterly incredible. The smokiness from the puréed eggplants elevates the already sapid flavours of the purée, and the copious addition of garlic makes the babaganoush even more delicious. Smooth, salty, smoky and simply addictive, I couldn’t help but mop up as much of it with the bread as I could.⠀
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While the pita/pide bread was acceptably appealing, I preferred the Balloon Bread ($7++) instead. It’s airy, light and charmingly chewy, and more closely resembles pita bread. Perfect for wiping up every last dollop of the brilliant babaganoush and the hearty hummus.⠀
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Thank you for hosting us, @mavirestaurant.sg & @burpple!