Source: Trib Total Media
The “Arabesque” restaurant opens at the Antiochian Village Museum serving Middle east cuisine.
Locals and those visiting the Laurel Highlands will now have the opportunity to experience authentic Middle Eastern cuisine and surroundings at Arabesque, recently opened at the Antiochian Village in Bolivar.
Guests are invited to enjoy authentic cuisine and the ambiance of the Antiochian Village Heritage Museum between 5 and 8 p.m. every Thursday.
“It's more than a meal in a restaurant,” said Amy Stiffler, director of operations at Antiochian Village. “It's more of a dining experience.”
The conference center and banquet facility, owned by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, has been in operation since 1985 and serves more than 12,000 guests each year.
On the grounds, visitors get a glimpse of the artistic, cultural and spiritual heritage of the Near East, Eastern Orthodox Christianity and its roots in and around Antioch (Syria).
Hand-embroidered textiles, inlaid wood furniture, jewelry and metal work are all on display at the museum.
“Many visitors have been impressed by the art and quality of the museum here and we decided to share that with the public,” said John Scanlan, executive director of the facility.
The unique three-course dining experience usually takes about an hour and a half to complete, Stiffler said.
Several different salads are available, served on a platter for two as appetizers. The menu also contains traditional main course items such as chicken kabobs, grape leaves, kibbee — a dish that resembles American meatloaf with cinnamon and pine nuts — and a rice, green bean and lamb dish that is a delicacy in the Middle East.
“Traditionally, diners enjoyed a glass of Arak, a licorice flavored liquor, as a palate cleanser with their meal and we offer that here as well,” Stiffler said.
A meal costs around $22 per person and beverages are available for purchase separately.
Middle Eastern music plays while guests are dining and, with most of the staff having Arabic ties, menu options and conversation in the native language are often heard.
“We wanted to offer the opportunity for the public to be exposed to Middle Eastern culture,” Scanlan said. “So far it's been a huge success. The first night we sold out and we already have several reservations for this week's dinner.”
Chef Timothy Johnston, who has been preparing Middle Eastern fare at Antiochian Village for 25 years, said he is thrilled the facility is presenting the opportunity to explore cross country boundaries.
“I really like that we're using an under-utilized part of the facility,” Johnston said of the meals being served in the museum. “It's just beautiful — it's glass-enclosed and there is just so much to see — priceless Middle Eastern artifacts.”
Johnston said when planning the menu, he chose a selection that highlights Middle Eastern fare — items that people generally want to try when they think of food from the Middle East.
“I like preparing the salads and the dips — the baba ganoush and hummus; it's so nice for a summer evening. I could make a meal of just those items,” Johnston said.
Scanlan said with activities at the facility being a bit quieter during the week, the staff thought now would be the perfect time to try something new.
As the facility only has the capacity to seat 25 people, reservations are recommended and can be made by contacting Antiochian Village at 724-238-3677, ext. 400.
Scanlan said the decision will be made in the fall to determine if the restaurant will operate more than one evening a week.
In keeping with the theme, they are playing with the idea of featuring belly dancers in the future and possibly hosting a fashion show including some of the museum's Middle Eastern attire that dates back hundreds of years.
“We have this gorgeous 400-acre facility and a beautiful museum full of culture and history,” Scanlan said. “We wanted to make it more accessible for the public to come in and enjoy a very unique experience.”
Cami DiBattista is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.
