It can be a gamble when a company well-known for doing one thing very well tries to branch off into a different area.
Some of these ideas inevitably tank – The Chevy Chase Show or the XFL, for instance – but some of the best can pull it off. Yamaha makes great keyboards, percussion instruments, sport motorcycles and speedboats, among a slew of other things.
And then there’s Aissa Sweets.
You might remember this place as a Middle Eastern bakery that used to be on North Main Street just outside the downtown core. It was famous for its baklava, which was made with imported pistachios and hand-rolled filo dough.
Well, the business has moved to Hall Street, and they’re still pumping out loads of fresh sweets every day over there, only now they’ve stepped into the world of hot food.
As we mentioned, it’s kind of a big deal when a company known for one thing wades into a slightly different field – you may or may not recall toothpaste icon Colgate producing frozen home dinners for a short while in the early ’80s – but we have a really good feeling about Aissa Sweets.
The beauty of it is that owner Ahmad Aissa has incorporated his techniques – and ingredients – from his sweet-baking into his hot meal-making, meaning he’s staying in familiar territory.
The signature of the new line is the wraps. These don’t come in regular flatbread or pita. Instead, each wrap is rolled in super-light and flaky filo dough, which Aissa uses masterfully in his pastries.
Having already been familiar with the baklava, this Food Snob was pretty excited to try something hot and hearty. Right at the top of the menu was an item that caught my eye: Beef kebab.
This wrap comes with spiced, all-natural beef, red peppers, onions, garlic, feta, mozzarella, cilantro and house-made pickled carrots – what a mouthful, literally.
And, of course, it’s all wrapped in an airy, flaky crust and served steaming hot.
The first bite was very impressive. It was very hot, right on the border of being too hot, but I enjoyed it. The beef was nice and juicy and the creamy cheese blended perfectly with it.
With each bite, little flakes of crust fell off, some with goodies like cheese and onions on them – these made for great little snacks in between bites of the real deal.
Though the beef is described as “spiced,” it certainly wasn’t spicy, and not overly seasoned, either. If you like a pretty classic beef flavor, you’ll like this.
The garlic is also very light – I could only get hints of it here and there. Many people will like this, as garlic is pretty strong, but I personally could have done with a little more.
The house-made pickled carrots are a nice touch. They add a little bit of a light crunch to the mix, and they give it a slight vinegary kick that’s welcomed in this otherwise very savory wrap.
The best part about it is that it won’t leave you feeling like you just ate a battleship. Because of the light filo dough, your stomach is getting mostly meat, cheese and veggies, so there’s plenty of room left over to squeeze in some baklava and filled cookies.
Don’t worry, though – if you’re looking for a real lunch that will get you through the day, you’ll have no complaints with this wrap, as it is filling without being heavy and uncomfortable.
Head over to the new cafe at 128 Hall St., Unit H, and try it out. For more info, go to aissasweets.com or call 856-8735.
