Most people probably associate pupu platters with Chinese restaurants. But the pupu platter at ZuZu, served in a wooden bowl with multiple compartments, is filled with Middle Eastern mazza (or mezze). A little grill glows in the center of the platter, keeping the appetizers warm so you can savor them the right way: very, very slowly. Heat your chosen tidbits on the grill while you sip another glass of wine and nibble languidly on kebabs, kibbeh (ground lamb in a fried bulgur crust), stuffed grape leaves, brik (chicken in deep-fried dough), and spinach dumplings. Pita bread accompanies creamy hummus, baba ghanooj, cumin-rich harissa, and whipped garlic. The latter, made simply with oil, lemon, and raw garlic (lots of it!), is so fluffy that you have to finish it all, no matter what plans you may have for the rest of the evening. Still, make sure to have a mint.
Available for $19 ($16 for the vegetarian version) at ZuZu, 474 Mass Ave, Cambridge | 617.864.3278.
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