Sevan Bakery: Full of Armenian (and Turkish) Delights
I had at least 4 of these on Saturday.
After going to Istanbul, we got hooked on several Turkish dishes from a simple cup of tea in a tulip shaped glass to sour cherry juice to Turkish pizza. We were able to get a pizza fix at Anatolia in Nashville, but the Turkish spots here in Boston don’t have lahmacun on the menu. Which is a tragedy. Anthony Bourdain wanted a second one on his trip to Istanbul. I could eat several, as well.
So when the hubs discovered that an Armenian bakery and grocery store in Watertown had a similar version, we HAD to go check it out. Guys, they had a box of freshly baked lahmejun (Armenia’s answer to lahmacun), twelve 8 inch pizzas to be exact, for under $17. We walked out with a huge bag of tea, sugar cubes for said tea, and a box of beautifully delicious pizza for $20.
It was a foodie’s paradise. Olives, nuts, spices, and honey comb greeted you from shelves and a buffet bar. Make a turn, and there were juices, teas, pomegranate molasses, and rose water. There were boxes and boxes of lokum (Turkish delight) in different flavors. The refrigerated section had lahmejuns, phyllo dough, and other goodies. Then the bakery, with simits, gorgeous little dessert pastries, and stuffed calzone-like things. Cue choir of angels.
Confession time: we ate 11 of the 12 lahmejuns on Saturday for lunch and dinner. They were THAT GOOD. The crust is thin, chewy, flexible, and crispy at the same time. It’s like a chapati meets a tortilla meets a thin crust pizza. The mixed minced beef and spices were in a thin layer, but there was enough to get the flavor without breaking the crust. We just heated them up on a crisper in the oven and tucked in. No raw, chopped tomatoes, parsley, lemon juice, or sumac (all traditional garnishes for lahmacun) needed. These were cracktastic as is.
If you’re ever in Watertown, MA, made a trip over to Sevan. Your stomach will thank you.
Subscribe via RSS
Follow Me on Twitter
Be a Fan on Facebook
Follow Me on Pinterest
Lesley — March 13, 2012 @ 12:25 pm
That place sounds WONDERFUL! I don’t eat the pizza at Anatolia b/c they don’t have a veg version, but perhaps I should request one…hrm…
Lesley recently posted..Persian Saffron Rice Pilaf with Almonds and Currants
ehalvey replied: — March 13th, 2012 @ 1:44 pm
I’m not sure what all is on the veggie version, but I’m assuming mushrooms and peppers? I would think Anatolia could do that.
Sevan was like a piece of heaven for me. All I needed was a cup of tea.
Elizabeth — March 15, 2012 @ 7:53 pm
I love Sevan! Definitely the best out of the Watertown Armenian shops. My boyfriend is Armenian and he and his dad love their basturma and other prepared foods.
Elizabeth recently posted..80 Thoreau
ehalvey replied: — March 16th, 2012 @ 9:52 am
Oh, good to know that it gets the Armenian stamp of approval! I could live in there…and get very fat.