In keeping with my current obsession with Lebanese food I suggested we make a quick detour to Auburn so I can make sure I'm well and truly stuffed to the brim before heading home for the night.
We do a quick lap of Auburn, checking out the various Lebanese and Turkish cafes. After our visit to Lakemba last week I'm feeling a major craving for hommus with meat.
In the end we settle on Jasmin1 as its ENORMOUS outdoor menu confirms they can satisfy my hommus with meat craving. I love that we don't even to venture inside to check out the menu, Jasmin1 ensures even the passing traffic know what's on offer.
The restaurant is quiet when we arrive at 5.30pm, but with the amount of indoor and outdoor seating they have I suspect things get pretty busy as the night wears on.
Jasmin1 (which I think may be called "1" as they also have restaurants in Lidcombe, Granville and Guildford which I assume are "2", "3", and "4") offers Hommus with Chicken ($12.00) and The Boy thinks we should give this a try.
We can smell the smokey BBQ chicken headed for our table the moment the waiter leaves the kitchen. It takes all The Boy's strength not to devour the dish before all my happy snaps are taken.
I think that $12.00 for this dish is a real bargain as it comes with a basket of Lebanese bread (more than we can actually eat) and a plate of pickles, complete with big hunks of tomato, onion, chills, mint, gherkins and olives. As with all the Lebanese places we have been eating at recently the fuchsia pink pickled turnip brightens up the plate.
The BBQ chicken is deliciously crispy on the outside yet still tender inside. The smokiness of the meat is divine!!! The hommus also has a wonderful smokey flavour and is not at all oily.
I tried eating my dip in the Lebanese way, using the bread like a spoon to scoop up the dip and meat, but in the end had to ask for a knife and fork as I am so uncoordinated I ended up with dip all over my hand. The dip and meat are lovely when rolled up with the pickled vegetables and mint. Mmmm.
I think I need to give a special shout out to the decor at Jasmin1. Occupying a former Pizza Hut I'm impressed by the opulent chandeliers they have installed.
On the plus side, I left the restaurant feeling well and truly full. The down side is that I am still craving hommus with meat. D'oh!
Jasmin1 is at 22 Civic Road, Auburn. Jasmin1 is a Halal restaurant and no alcohol is allowed.
