[As published in WPB Magazine's Fall 2024 print edition.]
If an innate passion for eating together with friends and family at the dinner table travels through your veins, as it does for me, chances are you’ve heard of Leila Restaurant and one of its most prized gems: mezze. These Mediterranean-style small plates with fresh vegetables, meats, seafood, cheeses, and crisp nuts and fruits unite people over food for as long as they have stories to tell.
In Mediterranean countries, people eat like this every day, making space at the dinner table for each other just for the pleasure of it. This reflects the culture and cooking styles passed from generation to generation. For them, meze is more than just delicious food; it symbolizes hospitality and generosity deeply rooted in the region’s traditions.
For Akram [Alex] and Mireille Awad, owners of Leila Restaurant, along with their children Constantine and Christine, it is a common way to welcome guests and share a meal, something they learned from back home.
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