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Alee

Amman

Contemporary Levantine cooking set in historic surrounds

On the Pass

Ali Ghzawi

The chef: Ali Ghzawi’s story begins in his mother’s kitchen with his deep love for her cooking. His dishes are inspired by the everyday recipes he grew up eating, transformed into memories on a plate. The food is simple, flavourful, nostalgic yet modern.

On the  menu: Expect modern Levantine flavours with playful textures that engage diners with every bite. Each dish tells a different story from Ghzawi’s childhood. Standout items include fermented bell pepper on taboun bread with sujok; Armenian eech salad with pickled grape leaves, puffed bulgur and fermented pomegranate; kibbeh nayeh with pea tendrils, garlic aioli and pickled onions; and his signature dish: cauliflower steak with licorice purée and capers, which crowned Ghzawi the winner of Top Chef Arabia in 2019.

The view: Perched atop one of Amman’s seven hills, the restaurant is designed with the panorama in mind. The decor is sleek and simple, with an open kitchen and large floor-to-ceiling windows that give diners a view of downtown Amman and the Citadel – an archaeological site dating back to the Roman and Byzantine eras.

Service with a story: Ghzawi and his team seamlessly weave through the dining room to present the dishes along with the stories behind what’s on the plate.

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