During lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne, the Bearded Bakers had to rethink their business model. I remember when we first started, we had close to 3000 people a night, Joey recalls. The bearded bakers are full of energy and very entertaining. What separates customer service from hospitality is the genuine desire to serve and provide. Yeah, he says, not missing a beat, a million bucks for charity, nothing less.. We were dragged down the front to dance with the family. Transfer the cream to a wide-mouth bowl and cover it with cling wrap, touching the top of the cream to avoid skin formation. It'll be served by men in white dancing to thumping music inside a tricked-out shipping container. (optional) Include your @instagramhandle or email if you want us to tag/send you the finished story you've requested. However, to make it hands-free and easy I prefer baking the Kunafeh in a cake pan. "Queens has been amazing, Brooklyn's been incredible," El-Issa said of the month that he's been in New York so far with the entire Knafeh team from Sydney (including his mother). Grease an 8-inch baking pan and add a drop of orange food color (optional) to the base and sides. Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. Otherwise, try out a knafeh and have fun!! Its also about breaking down the negative stereotypes that often surround Middle Eastern men with beards. Use a food processor to finely shred the Phyllo dough into smaller pieces. There are two main types of Kunafa - na'ameh and kishneh. Remove pan from oven and wait a few minutes just until its comfortable to handle but still warm. I ask how many knafeh they make a week. Or fine semolina flour, works as a thickener for the knafeh filling. Pour half of the cooled sugar syrup over the knafeh and garnish with crushed pistachios on top of the knafeh, if using. If you like knafeh, you probably love it with a capital L. The traditional dessert is usually cooked in deep sheet pans and served warm. To use it, you have to shred it into smaller pieces until it looks like vermicelli. Usually when you think of the words dinner and a show, you straight away think of a sub-par cabaret, with a side of For Orange Blossom Syrup Walking into the outdoor food hall was mesmerising. Pistachios are still referred to as fistuk halabi, or Aleppian pistachios, in many Israeli markets. All Rights Reserved. We always tell people we stop counting after a thousand, says Joey. Grease the base of an 8-inch baking pan with whatever butter is left in the bowl really well. So we started investing some time into brand partnerships and collaborations, always making sure we can connect people from an emotional perspective to the food side of things. I had never tried it before but I'll certainly be having it again =) Chely May R. 5 years ago on YelpRequest content removal Kanafeh is middle Eastern dessert made with (salt reduced) cheese. The other variation of making the Knafeh filling includes the addition of cheese in it. Feeling naughty indulge in a Knafeh tomorrow night at the @queensnightmarket. No, Knafeh is not supposed to be crunchy . The Bearded Bakers, have become an institution among the pop-up food-truck world, and along with their delectable fresh Knafeh an Arab dessert comprised of sweet syrup, cheese and pastry they showcase a contagious zest for life, and love of a great party. As you order your knafeh, you'll see the so-called bearded bakers ladling batter into plates, spritzing rose water wash with grand arcs of the arm, and drizzling syrup with flourish, all making for entertaining dessert theater. Driving home, we were flagged down by the friend, who had stopped at his favorite shop to buy us a box of 10 large slices. Thats when we were like, This is how we can get this product out onto the streets of Sydney. We never felt like anyone owned the beard, says Joey. For the uninitiated, knafeh is a traditional Middle Eastern sweet cheese and semolina pudding with a fine crumbing, topped with crushed pistachios and then drizzled Smooth Knafeh Filling (Ashta) 500 ml (2 cups) Milk 250 ml (1 cup) Cream - Use heavy cream or fresh cream here. I thought it would be complicated, but it was easier than baking a cake. Bring water and sugar to a rolling boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. From the smoky atmosphere of the markets, the Turkish coffee merchant, the cheeky boys on the spice table, fresh dates, antiques on the rugs: That was just the entrance to the alleyway. Shredded phyllo dough can be found at any Middle Eastern store or you can order it online. Finally, layer the remaining dough on top and press it down evenly. It will be cut into large squares to order by a large spatula similar to the kind used to spackle walls and served to customers who dont have time to wait for a made-to-order personal portion. Every week on social media, they announce the location of their Melbourne, Sydney and New York shipping container pop-ups, Knafeh Bakery. We always tell people we stop counting after a thousand, says Joey. Mum always cooked all this amazing food and people were always coming over to our house, says Joey. She is an Israeli-trained baker, gourmet cook, food and culture writer, and gives foodie tours to tourists in Haifa City. Knafeh is best enjoyed warm, so this is actually the best way to ensure you eat it fresh! Divide the Shred the dough into smaller pieces until it looks like vermicelli, by hand or using a food processor. Knafeh has also set up shop in Bay Ridge the past few Sundays and made other appearances around town. We realised we had to work out how to get this product out as a takeaway item, Joey says. Whatever the case may be, I think they've got the recipe for success! Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 40 min until deep golden brown color. Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram, Hi i tried this recipe and the pastry is Chewy rather than crunchy? Make a change from your habitual meal and order perfectly cooked knafeh at Knafeh. When it is finally the golden hue he seeks, he lifts the tray and expertly flips its contents into an empty metal tray of the exact same size. We loved how simple yet delicious it turned out to be! Its a bit of a conversation starter, especially when people see us jumping around.. I made it last night for a hard to please family members and everyone liked it. All these corporate people were reaching out to us, wanting to work with the Bearded Bakers, Joey says. Add a drop of orange food color (again optional) and spread it well onto the base and sides of the baking tray. Dean Essa got his knafeh education from six years living in Jerusalem, being exposed to famous knafehs such as varieties sold atJaffar Sweets in the Old Citys Muslim Quarter. With its rising popularity, this Lebanese dessert comes in varied variations nowadays. It soaks through the pastry to soften it, seal in the freshness, and yes, even weigh it down a bit since many bakeries sell their baked goods by weight. It was about food theatre, it was about personality, it was about sights and smells and everything that a market place embodies, says Ameer. As to the bright orange color, no one can quite explain this phenomenon. Weve sent your feedback straight to our editorial team. But were so proud of our culture. Cheese Kunafa: This is the most common type of Kunafa and is made with a sweet cheese filling, such as Nabulsi or Akkawi cheese. At Knafeh New York, you'll find only the eponymous dessert on the menu. He grabs a cordless microphone and, with a flawless radio announcer voice, declares to everyone within earshot that Knafeh Bakery is open for business. In a separate saucepan, combine together the milk, cream, cornflour, sugar, and vanilla essence until the cornflour is dissolved completely without any lumps. Required fields are marked *, Knafeh for sale at Mamtakei Kashash in Akko Market. June 22, 2015. I am guilty of doing all three. Dishes include the El-Issa family staple, kibbeh bil saineh. To mix it with shredded phyllo dough and create the knafeh crust. Another is coming soon to Dubai, where a lot of Australian dairy is exported. Knafeh bakery: Middle Eastern street food treat unites Sydneysiders. I stumbled across them at the Preston food truck park and again in the cbd (twice in one week, how lucky am I?!) Proudly produced by Seasoned Traveller in partnership withDairy Australia. Wherever theres a business, people need to eat. Hope this helps. WebQuite possibly the world's coolest cooks, The Bearded Bakers are best known for their unique food-meets-theatre performances in converted shipping containers that tour cities. But most importantly, they invite every last one of their customers to become a part of their big loud family. Sprinkled with freshly ground pistachios, the knafeh is kept warm in a type of elaborate chafing dish. Hope this helps, let me know how it turns out for you! The high-quality kind are produced in specialty factories from batter poured through a sieve or draped with a special tool onto a moving heated circle that quickly cooks the angel hair-thin strands as they spin. I also like to make food look pretty, because when it looks good, doesnt it just taste better? Wolter The hardest part about this recipe, is finding the ingredients, especially the phyllo dough. Remove the syrup from the heat, add the rosewater, give it a quick stir. By Farah Beaini (Living in the land of the Kulin nation), tck, TCK, TCK TOWN, third culture kid, in good taste, ingredients, method, steps, recipe, rice, zuccini, mint, garlic, koosa, vegetarian, By Danish Khan (From Melbourne, Perth, Karachi & Islamabad. Basically, you are sandwiching the layer of cream between the phyllo dough layers. All nationalities and religions share the beard. Knafeh from El Marsa Restaurant in Acre (Akko). This space is designed in a way that anyone can bake from scratch with confidence. Although coming up with delicious vegetarian dishes is a tough job, Mama manages to nail it every time. We visited their pop up at Preston Fresh Hood Market recently. Next on the cards is Dubai and London. El-Issa, whose father was born in Jerusalem and mother in Jordan, says he comes from a family where "we were always surrounded by food and people," and learned the pleasure of eating was just as much about the experience as the product. The El-Issa family who brought the bakery to life has pulled off a remarkable feat theyve taken a dessert almost mundane in its existence in Middle-Eastern culture and transformed it into a unique experience which holds its own on Australias competitive and diverse food landscape, all while brewing a light-hearted camaraderie for all those who have arrived for the Knafeh Bakery experience. Its pretty special.. When it comes to dairy, meat and poultry, Australia definitely has the best. Delicious Lebanese knafeh recipe! Knafeh is a delicious Middle Eastern savory and sweet dessert. Thanks again! Making knafeh looks more intimidating that it actually does. This is a mix of the freshest minced lamb and bulgur with essential seven spices (baharat). Try to bring it to room temperature before baking or just increase the baking time by few minutes. True hospitality runs through Ameer El-issas veins and his family businesses; Bar Biscotti, Shisha, Knafeh Bakery and The Bearded Bakers. Still, aside from its celebratory nature, and the perfectly plated representations spotted at chef restaurants, knafeh shops tend to sell these sweets street-food style, on plastic plates, with plastic forks and paper napkins. If you prefer you can also add a layer of ground pistachios on top of the cream which I skipped. This recipe is just one of the many delicious Knafeh recipes that you can easily try at home. When peeled, soaked, removed of their brownish skins and chopped finely, these chartreuse-hued nuts, which can cost up to $40 per kilo, really gussy up the dish. In this Knafeh recipe version, we are making the Ashta Cream as the filling which is then sandwiched between the Knafeh dough. WebButter Brittle Cake. Joey, Ameer and Nabila recently collaborated with Duru Bulgur and home-cooked meal delivery service FoodSt to release some of Nabillas favourite dishes, all featuring bulgur. To see where Knafeh will set up next in New York, follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Keep changing water, until it loses most of its salt. The Mahroum family has been operating Arab sweets shops in Nazareth since 1890, and its knafeh is supremely buttery and gently sweet. The recommended products below are affiliate links to products I use and love! Thankfully, their version was totally different, much lighter and fluffier, definitely not as sweet but would satisfy any sugar craving, and the crispy golden top layer and custard-like cheesy interior was gentle on the palate. Transfer to a medium sized bowl, and mix with melted butter until all pieces are coated with butter. Theres also a creamy mushroom and zucchini vegetarian risotto, which shows how versatile bulgur really is. With a dash of love to finish it off, every dish is better than the last.. Then slowly start raising the pan to release the formed knafeh. Now there are about 50 Bearded Bakers working at Knafeh Bakery travelling shipping containers in Sydney, Melbourne and New York. Use an electric mixer for this step or else there will be some lumps as seen in the image above but it is ok as it did not affect the final texture of the baked product. In Haifa,Caf Shtroudlbelow the Bahai Gardens World Heritage Site serves dairy knafeh with a ball of homemade pistachio ice cream on top. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My brother and I are super proud that weve created the Bearded Bakers, but the essence of what were doing is our mothers love for us and her cooking.. Remove pan from oven and set aside until its comfortable to handle. We had people travelling 40, 50 kilometres just to pick up their dessert. New York Hall of Science. Its almost like a cheesy, oozy Middle Eastern crme brle. Place a flat serving plate on top of the pan and using both hands flip the pan over onto the plate. Yes, you can get kadaif noodles at any Israeli grocery store, either frozen or vacuum sealed and shelf stable, but they are not going to come close to those handmade with such artistry by the handful of people left who still know how to make them the traditional way, as is the case in Nazareth. Lots of beards. 10am - 6pm @tkny86 #mamabaker #beardedbakers #knafeh #knafehbakery #knafehnewyork #smile, A post shared by Knafeh New York (@knafehnewyork) on Oct 12, 2017 at 12:23pm PDT. Our mum is a special woman with special recipes beautiful, home-cooked, loving food. The Bearded Bakers are dancing their way to success. Beard or no beard. Then, add the cheese, spreading evenly. Follow the packet instructions to thaw the frozen dough. But it's interactive, too: they dance and beat on drums and jump over the counter to dance with the crowd as music plays. Youll hear how important it is to create a genuine experience around Photo: courtesy Samneh (ghee) is clarified butter, heated in a saucepan and skimmed of the milk solids that float to the top, leaving pure butterfat behind. Knafeh is a traditional Middle-Eastern dessert with many variations. [Its about] Going back to our roots and showing people there is beauty in simple things, He said, adding That was what the whole night was about, going back to basics and doing simple things really well., On whether the event will become a more regular occurrence, Ameer tells us that the reaction they received has given them the confidence to do more, once we have recovered.. The most commonly used cheese in Knafeh is akawi cheese or mozzarella cheese. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently until you bring the mixture to a boil and until the mixture thickens. New York is a city thats driven by culture and night life, and experiences and it literally is the city that doesnt sleep, Ameer tells 9Honey. I can't go into detail, but its closest to mozzarella.. Is this how its meant to be? From there they opened a restaurant, but their chefs always became frustrated no matter what they made, people only wanted a taste of their mums knafeh. The same goes for the samneh. We have a lot of respect for Australian farmers and the dairy industry. Everyone at home loved it. Required fields are marked *, Baking for Passion and Baker by Profession, Hi, I am Sushma Iyer, a certified Career Baker. Everything was a part of the show. However, knafeh is indisputably from the Levant region, which includes Middle Eastern countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea as well as Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. The customers are also predominantly women: they all swoon over the bearded bakers, and on numerous occasions one or two have told me that theyd been following the gentlemen on their journey around Melbournes suburbs. Follow along onFacebook,Instagram, andPinterestfor all the latest updates! In the traditional middle eastern dessert recipe the Kunafeh is often cooked on the stovetop and then inverted onto a second tray and cooked on the other side too. I used a 12-inch/30cm round pan. Yes, you can make a variation of Knafeh without the cheese filling. Currently at Preston market on weekend ( evening), but I believe these guys are Sydney based and probably are not gonna be there for long. They are not actually a regular food truck but a shipping container turned portable commercial bakery (I'd be keen to see how it gets transported around) churning out one special dish only - knafeh. Both this and the cheese must be handmade, and of top quality to shine through a dish that has so few ingredients.. Knafeh from El Marsa Restaurant in Acre (Akko). Finally, add orange blossom water and lemon juice to flavor the syrup. Mama usually cooks this for the family during Lent, Joey says. But when we partnered up with Duru, we realised that Mama had been creating healthy recipes using bulgur since we were little kids. If you like this knafeh Lebanese style recipe or any other recipe on The Salt and Sweet Kitchen, then dont forget to rate the recipeand leave me a comment below! This chewy, nutty ancient grain is iconic in Middle Eastern cuisine. These are just a few of the many different variations of Kunafa that can be found in the Middle East and beyond. Place kataifi pastry in a large bowl and pull apart the noodles with your hands. Pour this over the prepared dough and mix to coat it well with butter. So knafeh is an odd choice for an ex-pat to take on. Indulge in the sweet and decadent flavors of Middle Eastern desserts with this authentic Lebanese Kunafa recipe. So we thought, lets try to change this whole negative stigma around men with beards. He flicks a button on his phone and upbeat Middle Eastern music blares from the speakers. Melt butter and add orange food coloring (optional). People in Melbourne embraced it like there was no tomorrow, Joey says. I skipped the ricotta and used sweet cheese that I got at a middle Eastern grocery store, So glad to hear! We're very blessed, says Joey. He sells three different kinds of knafeh: one flat, made on a large tray containing the famous Nabulsi cheese and kept warm, cut into squares for customers; one that is rolled into knafeh fingers with softer fresh ricotta inside; and a round personal pan made to order. The next Melbourne location will be announced soon. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a8c6fcbd20ed42595330eccac465bf19" );document.getElementById("f70c884dcc").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. Seriously WILD! There are three parts to this recipe - Shredded Pastry Base, smooth Knafeh filling (ashta cream), and orange blossom syrup. Hello Noor, Yes, you can assemble the Knafeh the night before, warp in an airtight plastic wrap and place in the fridge till the next day. So, a big part of our focus now is these brand partnerships food, fun, fashion, lifestyle. I have to be honest, I've had what I thought was some pretty good kanafeh before, but enter The bearded bakers and their cool set up. It calls for grinding soaked soy beans with sugar and water to create a knafeh cheese substitute. Today, The Bearded Bakers have three Knafeh shipping containers serving up the sweet treat in Sydney, Melbourne and New York, which they move every two weeks. They still only sell one thing and they do it with a side of style. There's no rhyme or reason to how they have fun, El-Issa says -- they just go with the flow, and the music they play follows no set playlist. The rest sounds very good especially the cream of wheat will definitely try after I hear from you thanks a lot. It's been open for business for about a month here, and also has locations in Sydney, where it launched three years ago, and in Melbourne. This kunafa recipe was exceptionally good! Coat the bottom of a 9-inch baking pan with baking spray. Add a layer of the buttered shredded Phyllo dough to bottom of the pan, spread it firmly and evenly. Add a layer of the shredded mozzarella and ricotta cheese mixture. Top the cheese with a layer of the knafeh filling. Delicious and delicate, and just the right serving size. Part of that recipe includes singing, dancing and cracking jokes we're talking an all-in-one entertainment package here! Food journalist Steve Rothfield felt that Musas recipe was good enough to be shared in his 2016 cookbook,Israel Eats. One can even find restaurants around Israel serving ice cream-studded plated knafeh adorned with candies, foams and sauces, in both dairy and vegan varieties. WebThe Bearded Bakers Authentic Jerusalem Street Food Hi were Ameer and Joey, the brothers behind The Bearded Bakers, you might know us for the singing and smooth moves we roll It may seem like a lot of steps and daunting but each step takes hardly a few minutes to put together so definitely even though the list is long it definitely falls under the easiest way to make a delicious dessert kind of recipe. And hence in the final recipe, I have eliminated it as the smooth creamy texture of ashta with crunchy pastry dough pairs so well that I felt you do not need any other add-ons. Reduce heat to low and simmer for another 5 minutes. So happy to hear you tried and enjoyed my knafeh recipe. At one stage, we were thinking, this is out of control.. Goat or sheep cheeseis essential. Nailing down the origins of any dish in this region is controversial. Photo by Jessica Halfin, Knafeh from El Marsa Restaurant in Acre (Akko). The bearded bakers put on quite the show as they lovingly call out customers names embellished on their serviettes or boxes. Stir well. 7 tbsp Cornflour 5 tbsp Sugar 1 tsp Vanilla Even thought the image above shows mozzarella cheese in it, I did not use it in the final recipe and hence not including its measurements here. And my brother always wanted to do something out of a shipping container. Pistachiosare a sign of prosperity and provide a stark color contrast to the bright orange kadaif on top of the knafeh. WebThere are four other Bearded Bakers ladling the warm cheese and semolina mixture into round containers, sprinkling them with a special crumb mix and spraying them with sugar syrup before each rolls into the conveyer oven. After our chat, Joey returns to the shipping container, which has set up outside a Melbourne shopping centre for the weekend. The core ingredient well my mum would always say its love but But that's not all that sets Kunafa apart - there are many different variations depending on the region and recipe being used. Now the boys are taking their multidimensional dining experience off-shore to the Middle East following success in Sydney, Melbourne and New York City a place that co-owner Ameer El-issa, says is made for Knafeh. It may look like a hip espresso bar, but Kanafanji specializes in knafeh (also spelled kanafeh), an Arabic dessert made with shredded vermicelli-like pastry noodles (kadaif) moistened with clarified butter, covered with crumbles of sheep or goat cheese and seared on both sides until golden. Jessica Halfin is an American immigrant who arrived in Israel in 2006. Each kind has a syrup that varies in taste. Shredded phyllo dough comes frozen or dried, both work for this recipe. Prepare your baking pan by greasing it with oil or butter. My only question is what about the ricotta cheese as you havent mentioned whether to put it along with the mozerella oR not. Kanafeh can be served as dessert, snack or breakfast. All rights reserved, Neighbors From Hell' Try to Run Over and Threaten NJ Officers, Officials Say, Teens Trapped in Flooded NJ Tunnel for Hours Rescued During Sunday Storms, Construction May Make Getting to JFK Airport a Nightmare for 3 Years: What to Know, Sewage Water Fills NYC Basements as Flooding Nightmare' Ends Weekend Washout, Benadryl Challenge' That Killed Ohio Teen Lands NJ Boy in Hospital; See Mom's Warning, Entenmann's Launches Ice Cream Sandwiches Based on Its Baked Goods. Garnish it with some chopped pistachios, and rose petals, and serve it warm with the remaining sugar syrup on the side. They never really showcased the positives of men with beards. Keep the pan in place upside down for a couple minutes to help keep the knafeh in shape. Varying from country to country, village to village, and even household to household, knafeh recipes depend on a few key flavors and raw materials: Kadaif flour-and-water noodles(or hairs, as they are referred to in Hebrew) are best made by master artisans.