There are so many amazing new foods to try in a region as diverse and unique as the Levant, so for this Field Note I will focus on just two staple foods here in Jordan. The one pictured in the featured image is a dip called hummus, often eaten on bread or vegetables. The other food I'm introducing is called a shawarma. This is similar to the sandwich in the United States and is the most common daily meal in Jordan.
During my time in Amman, so far, I've had the pleasure of diving into the local food culture, particularly two iconic dishes: hummus and shawarma.
Shawarma is a staple meal in the Arab world—similar to the way sandwiches are in the United States or tortilla- based foods like tacos are in Central America. So even though I enjoy these foods, sometimes I feel like I've tasted everything there is to taste already! However just like with the staple foods I mentioned, you can always find a restaurant that blows you away with their amazing version. My language partner took me to a restaurant that he promised serves "the best shawarma in Amman", and he was absolutely right!