Habibi Cafe Westwood California

Every reviewer is always torn between his personal tastes and what he sees is the taste of the general public.  Perhaps that's why it's so hard for me to give an awful review to a successful restaurant that's always full of people. Maybe being a middle eastern myself  that causes my standards to be a bit high. Perhaps the crowd that comes to Habibi is less interested in the Hummus and more fascinated with smoking a Hookah close to UCLA. Habibi is  usually packed with college students wanting to mingle and smoke a Hookah.
But for those wanting a Hummus not a Hookah  I say - AVOID this place.

The Hummus tasted old and generic. I  felt it had too much garlic and I love garlic. So stating that something has a strong garlic after taste-  is not a comment I've ever used.

I also ordered their Falafel sandwich which comes in a small pita. There were about three Falafels in it overall and at the end I still felt hungry and unsatisfied. It costs $6.00 which is double what I would have paid if I would have ordered three one falafel in a small pita.
The Falafel came in the sandwich without hummus which was also dissapointing.

Their Falafel plate is $14 which I feel is robbery .

The Falafel is good but not great. I give it credit for being fresh - but the taste was nothing to write home about.  That said the way it was served was dissapointing. Tiny pita that doesn't really resemble a middle eastern pita - with a hole. It's more like a puffy Burrito or one of those things you get at a Greek restaurant. That contributed to the messy eating experience with this. It was also wrapped in an unusual way that made the entire meal uncomfortable and everything kept falling out of the sandwich.
If you're a college student on a date - don't eat the Falafel - cause you're almost guaranteed to look like a fool.

I wanted to check their take out as well and ordered a Hummus to go and got it in a paper box which was a first - Cheap paper that became soggy and added to the awful taste of the Hummus.
Also, they were extremely ungenerous with the Hummus. They served it in a very small quantity - oh and they dizzled some olive oil which helped make the box even soggier. This treat will run you $5.95 which for the size I felt was overpriced.

They don't accept Mastercard or Visa for under $10 - which means you can't just go in there and order a falafel sanwich . I waited to get the Falafel to go for over 20 minutes even thought there was no one there. The place has bad service and is very slow. Guess people who go there aren't in a rush.

If you're a college student and want to sit with friends to smoke a Hookah I'd recommend this place.
For food - I suggest go elsewhere.

This Hummus is one of the worst Hummus I've tasted in Los Angeles - and so I give this place a one star - only for the atmosphere.

AVOID. AVOID. AVOID if possible!

Is Hummus mentioned in the bible?

I found a really interesting article in another Hummus blog: HUMMUS101
It quotes a famous Israeli author, Meir Shalev's conclusion that Hummus was mentioned in the bible.

Here's what Hummus101 blog wrote:
"The first documented use of chick-peas to make humus in the middle-east, is from the age of the crusaders. What few people know is that humus was also mentioned in the old testament.
On the first time Ruth and Boaz had met in Bethlehem, he offered her some humus: “And at meal-time Boaz said unto her, Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar” (Ruth 2-14).
This is a mistranslation of course. The original word in ancient Hebrew, is “Hometz”. Which not only sounds a bit like “Humus”, but also resembles the word “Himtza”. The Hebrew name of chick-pees.
True, “Hometz” in modern Hebrew is vinegar. But you don’t really think Boaz was so rude as to offer Ruth to dip her bread in vinegar, do you?"

Well, Hummus Guide's meticulous blogger did some checking of his own and based on various English translation of the bible it seems that indeed some translations don't refer to the Hebrew word of HOMETZ, as vinegar but translate it as Roasted grains, meaning that Boaz gave Ruth Roasted grains to dip her bread into - i.e. a roasted grain dish - which is very likely Humus.


So it is possible that Hummus is biblical.

Thanks to Hummus101 and thanks to Meir Shalev the famous and great Israeli writer for noticing this.

Here's the link to the original Hummus101 blog about it:
http://humus101.com/EN/2006/10/10/6/

The Lebanon war of hummus

This article was copied from Ynet - Israel's leading news source affiliate of the largest newspaper in Israel:

http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3794608,00.html

Hundreds of Lebanese chefs reclaim Guinness record with world's biggest hummus plate
AFP
Published: 10.24.09, 18:32 / Israel Culture
Hundreds of garlic-loving Lebanese came together on Saturday to make the largest hummus serving on the world's biggest plate, claiming ownership of the dish with a new Guinness world record.

The previous record was held by an Israeli company.

A Guinness representative was on hand to certify the record set by 250 Lebanese chefs and their trainees, who joined efforts to mix over two tons of the chickpea-based dip.


The Lebanon war of hummus
Hundreds of Lebanese chefs reclaim Guinness record with world's biggest hummus plate
AFP
Published: 10.24.09, 18:32 / Israel Culture
Hundreds of garlic-loving Lebanese came together on Saturday to make the largest hummus serving on the world's biggest plate, claiming ownership of the dish with a new Guinness world record.

The previous record was held by an Israeli company.

A Guinness representative was on hand to certify the record set by 250 Lebanese chefs and their trainees, who joined efforts to mix over two tons of the chickpea-based dip.

Under the watchful eyes of the adjudicator, they poured 1,350 kilograms (2,976 pounds) of mashed chickpeas and 400 liters (13,525 ounces) of lemon juice into the mega-sized pottery dish, cheered on by hundreds of onlookers.

The chefs gathered around their dish upon receiving the Guinness certificate and sang an a capella version of the national anthem before joining hands to dance the traditional dabke in celebration.
Organizers have hailed the event as "a patriotic event of national scale.

"El Hommos Lebnaneh (Hummus is Lebanese) is an attempt to break the current Guinness world records of hummus and tabbouleh, reaffirming the Lebanese proprietorship of these two dishes," said a statement issued by the industrialist association and food syndicate, which planned the event.

A battle over hummus and tabbouleh between Lebanon and Israel - two neighbors still technically at war - emerged last year and efforts have been underway ever since to clearly identify such dishes as exclusively Lebanese.

The official awards ceremony is set to take place Sunday evening, when Lebanon hopes to break another world record for the largest bowl of tabbouleh.

In August, the small northern town of Ehden gained an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for producing the largest ever kebbe - a dish of minced meat and cracked wheat.


Photo above and it's copyright belongs to AP.

Hummus Pizza

Talk about Blasphemy. I noticed the world wide web is full of recipes for Hummus Pizza.
Hummus is room temperature and goes with nothing but Pita bread - so the idea of burining it in a Pizza oven is too wierd for me. But then again, maybe I should be more open.

Here's one of the most popular recipes that appeared in the top three of Google search taken from Family Oven website:
http://www.familyoven.com/offsite?r_id=20962&u=http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Hummus-Pizza/Detail.aspx

Submitted By: POODLEMOLUC
Photoabove By: LANEANN
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes

Ready In: 30 Minutes
Servings: 8
"This pizza uses hummus instead of the usual red sauce - a unique and healthy pizza for those bored with the traditional. Top with your favorite veggies and cheese."
Ingredients:
1 (10 ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust
dough
1 cup hummus spread

1 1/2 cups sliced bell peppers, any color
1 cup broccoli florets
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees C (220 degrees C).
2. Roll out pizza crust and place on a pizza pan or baking sheet. Spread a thin layer of hummus over the crust. Arrange sliced peppers and broccoli over the hummus, and top with shredded cheese.
3. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until the crust is golden brown and cheese is melted in the center. Slice and serve.

Most popular Hummus websites on Alexa

Almost Yom Kippur Eve - The Jewish holiday of reflections. So for all our Jewish friends we decided to show respect by reflecting as well.
Checked on Alexa, one of the websites to check popularity of websites to see who are the top ten Hummus related links online and we're still not there.
So for all the fans out there- do let your friends know about us and do send us info about new Hummus eateries we should write about.
Hopefully soon our website will inch it's way to be in the top ten.
There is still very little Hummus reviews worldwide. The top ten related Hummus websites are mostly restaurants or Hummus manufacturers.

As for the top ten. Here they are:

* 1. Hummus Bros
hbros.co.uk

Mediterranean restaurant which claims to be the first eatery in the UK where hummus is used as a base for the main course. History, press, feedback.
o hbros.co.uk is not in the top 100,000 sites
o Rank: 1,918,011
o Category: Regional > Europe
o Keywords: hummus bros, hummus bros london, humus brothers special offer, hbros, humus bar restaurant

* 2. hummusplace.com
hummusplace.com

o hummusplace.com is not in the top 100,000 sites
o Rank: 2,064,760
o Keywords: hummus place, the humus place, humus retaurant upper east side

* 3. trainz.cz
trainz.cz

o trainz.cz is not in the top 100,000 sites
o Rank: 1,568,947
o Keywords: trainz csu, trs 2009, hummus trainz, auran dls, trainz.cz
4. sabra.com
sabra.com

o sabra.com is not in the top 100,000 sites
o Rank: 937,921
o Keywords: sabra, sabra hummus, colombe jacobsen, sabra.com

* 5. tribehummus.com
tribehummus.com

o tribehummus.com is not in the top 100,000 sites
o Rank: 1,055,301
o Keywords: tribe hummus, free t shirt, tribe, free tshirts

6. Summer Fresh Salads Inc.
summerfresh.com

o summerfresh.com is not in the top 100,000 sites
o Rank: 5,751,719
o Keywords: fresh salads, summer freshed, summer fresh salads, www.summerfresh.com, summerfresh

* 7. Vaření.cz
vareni.cz

Nabízí české i mezinárodní recepty v katalogu s možností vyhledávání, aktuální články o vaření, tipy a triky pro domácnost, gastronomický slovník pojmů, diskuze a možnost tvorby osobní internetové kuchařky z receptů.
o vareni.cz is a top 100,000 site
o Rank: 82,173
o Category: World > Česky
o Keywords: pangasius, recept, lasagne, musaka, chilli con carne

* 8. A Dreamer s Guide - Dream Moods
dreammoods.com

Dream Moods is a free online source in helping you interpret your dreams. Features dream dictonary, discussion forums and articles related to dreaming.
o dreammoods.com is a top 50,000 site
o Rank: 12,993
o Category: Science > Social Sciences
o Keywords: dream dictionary, dreams, dream meanings, meaning of dreams, dreammoods

* 9. חומוס להמונים
humus101.com

הכל על חומוס: היסטוריה, תרבות, ערכים תזונתיים, המלצות על חומוסיות איכותיות, וכמובן - מתכונים. איך להכין חומוס, מסבחה, טחינה, חומוס-פול ועוד.
o humus101.com is not in the top 100,000 sites
o Rank: 462,331
o Category: World > Hebrew
o Keywords: חומוס, humus recipe, מתכון חומוס, hummus recipe, אבו חסן
o From the site: Everbody in the middle east eat Hummus. Although considered an Arab dish, Israelis too consider it to be their national delicacy. In recent years, hummus has gone global, and you can find it anywhere in the world - sometimes reffered to as “Houmous” or “Humus”. This blog is about Hummus, regardless of sex, race, religion or color. It is about the love for Hummus and the things you can do with it - including making it yourself. ... More...

* 10. Coupons - Couponsurfer.com - Free Online And Printable Coupons For G
couponsurfer.com

o couponsurfer.com is a top 100,000 site
o Rank: 82,786
o Keywords: coupons for groceries, red lobster, free coupons for groceries, coupon surfer, free coupon
o From the site: Welcome to CouponSurfer.com - Just click, point and save - it's that easy! Our mission at CouponSurfer.com is to save you money when you shop by offering top brand-name deals and coupons as a free service for you. We offer hundreds of money-saving coupons for groceries, clothing, gifts, shopping, toys, travel, and lots more. ... CouponSurfer.com Offers 2 types of Coupons: 1. On-line Coupon - These coupons are used at On-line Stores like Buy.com, PETsMART.com, and others. ... More...