Sometimes you get a craving for a certain type of food, a craving that can’t be satisfied by anything else. For me, the craving is often Eastern Mediterranean cuisine. I absolutely love its flavours, textures, and colours. Fortunately, I don’t have to leave London to find great Eastern Med. I just head down to Southbank.
Southbank has a ton of great restaurants, as you probably already know. Situated on the south bank of the River Thames, in central London, Southbank is one of the preeminent entertainment districts in all of England. It has no official borders, but we Londoners generally understand it to be the commercial district between County Hall and Southwark. Check out the South Bank London website for more information, or click here for more Southbank places.
A Basic History
A long time ago, this particular area of London was prone to flooding. As a result, its development was much slower compared to similar properties on the north bank of the river. But development began in earnest during the 18th century with theatres and pleasure gardens being opened.
By the early 20th century, County Hall development had begun. The rest is history, as they say. Over the next several decades, Southbank gradually became what we know it to be today.
The modern Southbank is well known for the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and more. It offers a plethora of opportunities for theatre, live music, shopping, drinking and, of course, fine dining. And that brings us back to the Eastern Mediterranean food many of us love so much.
What to Know About Eastern Med
If you’ve never experienced Eastern Mediterranean cuisine before, try it. I guarantee you’re in for a treat. Eastern Med encompasses the culinary traditions of Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey. It’s a lot to account for, but that only means diners have a lot of options to work with.
Eastern Med is very fresh-oriented. You won’t find a lot of processed foods in a genuinely Eastern Med diet. You will, though, find plenty of:
● Legumes (like chickpeas)
● Olive oil and flatbreads
● Fresh vegetables (eggplant, tomato, cucumber, etc.)
● Lamb, mutton, and poultry
● Seafood (especially in coastal areas)
● Fresh herbs (oregano, dill, and parsley)
● Flavourful spices (cumin, sumac, etc.)
● Sour fruits (lemon, bitter orange, pomegranate)
The most amazing thing about Eastern Mediterranean food is how flavours are combined. One dish can offer a range of complementing flavours that works seamlessly to create a delicious gastronomic experience while another dish can introduce competing flavours that force you to stand up and pay attention. Truly, it’s all good.
Personally, I like to explore as many different flavours as possible every time I sit down at an Eastern Med table. I don’t necessarily need all of those flavours in one dish. In fact, I like to spread them across multiple dishes.
Favourite Eastern Med Dishes
Those of us who truly appreciate Eastern Med cuisine have our favourite dishes. What about you? Is there something on the Eastern Mediterranean menu you especially love? Serious Eastern Med fans tend to show a lot of appreciation for:
● Dolmas – Stuffed vine leaves
● Falafel – Deep-fried chickpea patties
● Kibbeh – Ground meats perfectly complemented by wheat and spices
● Mezze – Small appetisers with hummus, baba ganoush, and tabbouleh
● Shawarma – Sliced meats presented on a vertical rotisserie
● Souvlaki – Grilled meat skewers
I confess to having a soft spot for shawarma. There is nothing quite like fresh roasted meat cut from the rotisserie and combined with some fresh vegetables on a pita.
Don’t Forget the Regional Specialties
Most of the dishes mentioned in the previous list can be found in just about any restaurant that serves Eastern Med. But if you truly love the cuisine, don’t forget about the regional specialties that can be hard to come by. You may have to search for an Eastern Med restaurant that specialises in a particular region to find what you’re looking for.
For example, a regional specialty from Egypt is a dish known as koshari. It is a mixture of macaroni, rice, and lentils all brought together with a tasty tomato sauce spiced to perfection.
Kibbeh is a regional specialty from Lebanon while Cyprus is known for its souvla and stifado – a flavorful stew made with rabbit or beef and complemented with onions. If you’re into dessert, consider a delicious baklava from Greece. I could go on, but you get the point.
Uncompromised Quality
I guess what impresses me most about Eastern Med is the commitment to uncompromised quality. Eastern Med chefs are sticklers about fresh, seasonal ingredients. They prefer grilling over frying. They love to incorporate cheeses, yoghourts, and even dried nuts and fruits into their savoury dishes.
We are fortunate that Eastern Mediterranean cuisine is readily available in London. We don’t have to hop on a plane to go to Greece and points farther east. A quick ride on the metro down to Southbank opens the door to some of the best food on the planet.
If you’ve never tried Eastern Mediterranean before, I highly recommend you do so soon. Your appetite for full flavour and fresh ingredients will undoubtedly be rewarded.
