Tasty Tuesday: Tom’s Tabooley

So I am a HUGE fan of Mediterranean food but often times it comes at a high price.  The cost is an issue for me, considering I’m a college student that is currently employed for a whopping $15 a day.  Therefore, I am constantly searching for high quality inexpensive food to eat so I can get a break from tuna salad and cereal.  Tom’s Tabooley is totally a wonderful find!

First off, everything I have had at Tom’s is incredibly delicious.  Second, all of their meals are under $7.  That’s right, their most expensive item is the Mediterranean Platter which happens to be a ton of food.  For a mere $6.99 you get a sample plate of tabooley, hummus, dolma, falafels, kalamata olives, feta cheese, pepperoncinis (aka bannana peppers), pita bread, and taratoor.  Almost overwhelming right?

Before I go any further, I want to make sure everyone is on the same page about what all this food actually is.  When you go to Tom’s they have, on the menu, a “Tabooley Tutorial,” that perfectly explains the confusing aspects of Mediterranean food.  I’ll go ahead and repost it here so you don’t get confused.

Tabooley Tutorial:

Hummus – A classic Mediterranean dip or spread made from a creamy blend of garbanzo beans, tahini, garlic and spices. Try all our flavours: traditional, roasted garlic, roasted red pepper, kalamata and spicy southwest.

Baba Ganoush – A dip or spread made from roasted eggplant, tahini, garlic and spices.

Tabooley – A wheat garden salad tossed with parsley, tomatoes, lemon juice, mint and extra virgin olive oil.

Dolmas – Hand rolled grape leaves stuffed with a delicious combination of brown rice, pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and spices in a tomato marinara. Chose from our many flavours: traditional, rosemary, dill mint, curry, jalapeno or habanero.

Falafel – Street food at its best, these crunchy croquettes are made with ground chickpeas, herbs and 7 spices. Normally they are tucked in pita bread with scoops of tomatoes, lettuce, onion and tarootar. These savory sandwiches are enjoyed throughout Europe.

Gyro – A hot and hearty blend of beef and lamb served on a pita with tomato, onion, lettuce and tzatziki.

Okay now that we’re on the same page, I’ll talk about my favorite dishes. The Dolmas are incredible and come in six different flavors: traditional, curry, habanero, jalapeno, dill mint, and rosemary. I have tried all but the habanero and jalapeno (I’m a little weary of the spicy stuff). They come with tzatziki dipping sauce which is creamy and compliments the Dolmas perfectly. Another favorite is the Thai Bowl with Falafels. Not entirely Mediterranean, but delicious anyway and super inexpensive. Just a warning though, it can get a little spicy and I have gotten it one time that it was WAY too salty.

I always want to try something new and I will, but my favorites are so good I have a hard time not getting them when I go! So go check out Tom’s Tabooley. If you’re a UT student, it’s right by campus! Tom’s Tabooley also sells several of their products at The Green Muse, HEB Hancock, HEB Central Market, Wheatsville Deli, and Whole Foods Gateway and Lamar.