New Moonee Ponds restaurant Bekka serves up award-winning falafels
CHARGRILLED meats, mezze sharing platters and award-winning falafels are the newest taste sensations to hit Moonee Ponds, and they’re all under one roof. Here’s where to find the goods.
North West
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CAULIFLOWER is making a come back, but for Suzie Pavlov it’s been a crowd-pleaser for years.
Whether it’s a barbecue, Sunday roast, or a midweek meal, you will always find fried cauliflower with tahini on the table at Mrs Pavlov’s house.
“It’s been a staple in our home for a long time,” she said.
And now it’s one of her most popular dishes at Bekka — the new kid on the block in Moonee Ponds.
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Bekka was named after Lebanon’s stunning wine and food region, The Beqaa Valley, and Richard and Suzie Pavlov said their restaurant filled a gaping hole in Moonee Ponds’ culinary scene.
The second-generation Lebanese-Australians live in Essendon with their three sons, and have been waiting for a quality Lebanese restaurant to open in the area for years.
“But there was nothing,” Mrs Pavlov said. So the couple took it upon themselves.
The Pavlov’s were the proud owners of the popular cafe The Brunswick Food Store until they sold in March last year.
Good Food and SBS Food awarded them the title of “Best Falafel” at the Brunswick Food Store, which Mrs Pavlov said was down to a recipe 40 years in the making.
“He’s tweaked it a little over the years. People just love it, it’s crunchy, and very authentic.”
She said the recipe was a combination of ingredients and flavours from Lebanese and Egyptian recipes.
“Some people make it with chickpeas, some with fava beans, broad beans. Ours is a Beirut style recipe made from chickpeas and broad beans.”
Bekka is open Monday to Saturday 11.30am-9pm, 22 Hall St, Moonee Ponds.
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