Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Hi all!
This might be a long stretch but I ate something about 2 mounths ago and I've been thinking about it ever since. The problem is, I don't know what it was or where to get it. I'll try to do my best to describe it; it was like a middle eastern spiced pita. I remember it was sealed in a plastic bag with a label on it. The label mentioned that it was a vegetarian pita (or something along those lines) and while it mentioned vegetable, there wasn't really recognizable vegis except for onion b/c they were chopped soo finely. I also believe the package mentioned skokie, il.
Thanks for any help. It may sound strange but I have no way of tracking this down as it was given to me by a man who has since passed away.

I think I can picture it. But I don't know what it is called. If it is from Skokie, there's a good chance it is from the Pita Inn Market and Bakery, which is next door to their restaurant.

Pita Inn market and bakery
3924 Dempster St.
Skokie, IL 60076
847-675-0025

Could it have been zaatar bread, or zaatar pie? search on google images with those phrases and see if that's it.

Amata wrote:Could it have been zaatar bread, or zaatar pie? search on google images with those phrases and see if that's it.

This looks like what I had in mind. They also have ones with chopped herbs.

Darren72 wrote:

Amata wrote:Could it have been zaatar bread, or zaatar pie? search on google images with those phrases and see if that's it.

This looks like what I had in mind. They also have ones with chopped herbs.

WOW!
Thank You both!
I believe that is it. I never thought I'd find it again.
Just curious, have you tried it? It's awsome!

THANKS

I've tried it and I agree that it is awesome. While you are at Pita Inn, pick up a package of their cheese and thyme pies. They are little round disks of dough, topped with feta and thyme.

I'm 99% certain that Sanabel Bakery makes and sells these, which might be more convenient depending on where you live. I'd call ahead, just to make sure. Pick up some fresh, still-warm, pita bread and some of their spinach pies while you're there.

Sanabel Bakery
4253 North Kedzie Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618-2401
(773) 539-5409

-Dan

you can find zaatar bread in any middle eastern bakery. also, at sultan's market in wicker park, on north avenue. make it yourself by buying the zaatar spice mixture at al khayam, or andy's fruit ranch on kedzie. justjoan

I actually rather like Sultan's for falafel (though I'm craving Dawali for lunch at the moment), but the two times I've tried their zaatar bread (at the N. Clark location), it was tough and stale.

-Dan

Another source for zaatar:

Taza Bakery
3100 West Devon, Chicago
773/942-7541

I'm 99% certain that Sanabel Bakery makes and sells these

They do, & I second calling ahead. They seem to run out of various items quite quickly (particularly the cheese & spinach pies), but are very accommodating if you call ahead & will also bake items that they might not have on hand to be held for pick up later in the day.

gocubs88 wrote:Hi all!
This might be a long stretch but I ate something about 2 mounths ago and I've been thinking about it ever since. The problem is, I don't know what it was or where to get it. I'll try to do my best to describe it; it was like a middle eastern spiced pita. I remember it was sealed in a plastic bag with a label on it. The label mentioned that it was a vegetarian pita (or something along those lines) and while it mentioned vegetable, there wasn't really recognizable vegis except for onion b/c they were chopped soo finely. I also believe the package mentioned skokie, il.
Thanks for any help. It may sound strange but I have no way of tracking this down as it was given to me by a man who has since passed away.

We used to get the Zatar bread at the Alladin Bakery in Cleveland.

It is simple to mak. Put olive oil on the pita brad and spread the zatar spices (available from Penzey's) on the bread and gently warm the bread in the oven.

I really enjoyed the za'atar bread from Village Pita. They had a stand at a Middle Eastern festival at the Daley Plaza not too long ago. I'd imagine it's even better at the actual location.

Village Pita & Bakery
7378 West 87th Street
Bridgeview, IL 60455-1824

I'm trying to figure out why this question, whose answer related to a restaurant, has been moved to Shopping & Cooking.

I also have to say, I almost can't believe that this question was answered successfully. Great work, people.

Actually, most or all are bakeries or middle eastern markets, including the Pita Inn reference.

Just my personal thought - it might be helpful if the OP edited the original post to add zaatar bread.

It might be better to just edit the title to include "[Zaatar bread]" so the thread can be more easily found in the future.

(Sorry, that's what I meant - too close to the school year to write clearly, I guess )

Just to add to the searchability of this post: The Arabic name for this treat is also manakish or manakeesh (MAN-a-keesh) and "keesh" is pronounced sort of like "quiche."

I spent part of my childhood in Saudi Arabia and one of my favorite treats was manakish hot from the local bakery. I dream of it to this day...in my experience, the zaatar bread in the US is usually a bit too thick. Wikipedia info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manakish

I also dream of truly authentic shawarmas...other friends who have also lived in Saudi agree that Al-Khaymeih's come closer than most, but not perfect. (I think the sauce is wrong...to much garlic in Al-Khaymeih's version, but which is still a great sandwich. We always joked in Saudi that the flies buzzing around the shawarma stand--most of which were outside--probably gave it some extra flavor.)