Hummus

Like tapas, meze are the civilized accompaniment to drinks – the raki of the Turks, the ouzo of the Greeks, the arak of the Lebanese. The best meze can be simple cucumbers dipped in salt, or grilled and battered sardines, or a bowl of almonds. The point is to serve something fresh and seasonal, to delight the palate. Hummus is always good, to eat with bread or sliced raw vegetables.