Aleppo Sweets

Aleppo Sweets is a baklava bakery and cafe owned by the kindest, sweetest Syrian refugee family in Providence, Rhode Island. The food is simple, comforting, and so delicious that I cannot help but gush in superlative. I was fortunate to have been several times during my trip to Rhode Island this past February, and while any great meal will invoke feelings of nostalgia, this time period right before the known-onset of the pandemic stateside and subsequent five years of lockdown makes it feel extra poignant and bittersweet. Some day, I know that I will be back, but until then, I dream of Aleppo Sweets.

Foule: tahini, fava beans, garlic, lemon, olive oil, served with Syrian flat bread.

This dish is my favorite. I cannot see it on a menu and not order it. The fava are so creamy and decadent: what all beans aspire to be.

Baklava and Turkish coffee. Most of their baklava is made with syrup as opposed to honey, which, to me, is lighter and less sweet. (Not that I dislike honey baklava!) My personal favorite of the ones that I tried: Chocolate Pistachio

Musabaha: tahini, chickpeas, olive oil, tomato, parsley, and pieces of fried Syrian bread.

I was a little apprehensive, imagining bread that would become quickly soggy, but this dish was amazing. It was simple, so delicious, and had so many different but complementary textures.

A pot of sweet black tea and a za’atar fatayer. If you want to eat the way some Syrians do, you can dip the za’atar bread into the tea. I couldn’t quite imagine what it would taste like, but I liked it!

Although not pictured, I did on another occassion get the cheese fatayer with babaghanoush. Eggplant lovers, their baba is SO GOOD.

More baklava

Date: February 2020