Pete's Log: An old mystery has been solved
Entry #2016, (Cooking)(posted when I was 43 years old.)
My first real introduction to Mediterranean food was Elia's in South Bend. For a year or so, that was probably my favorite restaurant. And I absolutely loved their Baba Ghannouge (their spelling). And I've never liked it half as much anywhere else I ordered it.
Today Jamie and I grabbed lunch at 7 Gates, a Syrian place that's a 5-10 minute drive away. Jamie ordered their sampler that included among other things Mutabal and Baba Ghanouj (their spelling). And the Mutabal tasted like what I remembered the Baba Ghannouge tasting like at Elia's.
So I looked up the difference and apparently both are eggplant-based but Mutabal has tahini and garlic and Baba Ghanouj does not. Looking at Elia's website, their menu says their Baba Ghannouge has tahini and garlic in it. Mystery solved! Now I know to keep my eye out for Mutabal.
I am incredibly excited about this.