We stopped at Al Alamy in Coburg for a Middle Eastern vegetarian platter. The platter normally includes eggs, but we asked the chef to leave them out, and they happily replaced them with za’atar bread.
What’s on the platter
There was plenty to try: creamy fatteh topped with toasted nuts, ful medames (slow-cooked beans), labneh with olive oil, pita bread, mini za’atar breads, cheese pie, olives, tomatoes and colourful pickles. It was a lovely spread to share, with different textures and flavours on the table.
One thing to note: the vegetarian platter is quite heavy on dairy-based items, particularly the fatteh, labneh and cheese pie. If you do not enjoy too much cheese or yoghurt, it is worth asking whether a few items can be swapped for more non-dairy options.
More than a place to eat
One of the reasons I like visiting Al Alamy is its excellent Middle Eastern grocery store. I particularly enjoy buying pita bread here because there are different varieties, including rye and wholemeal. I also like browsing the nuts, green tea and pickles. It is the sort of place where we can stop for food and pick up a few groceries to take home.
Vegetarian note: We asked for the eggs to be replaced with za’atar bread, and the chef accommodated our request.
Location: Al Alamy, Coburg, Melbourne. Find Al Alamy on Google Maps.