Baklava

Baklava is a delicious, rich pastry made of layers of filo dough filled with chopped nuts, usually pistachios, walnuts, or almonds, and sweetened with honey or syrup. It’s a popular dessert in many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries, known for its flaky texture and sweet, nutty flavor. Throughout the course, Baklava made several appearances in the various cuisines. Not only does it serve as a prevalent dessert in Brighton Beach, amongst the Russian community/culture, but it is a staple in Middle-Eastern cuisine, as well.

When comparing the two Baklavas, they were quite similar in taste. They each had the basic, structural components of the dessert, as well as the sweet syrup between the layers. Though this was the case, the two varied in filling. The Brighton Beach Baklava had less filling than the Middle-Eastern version, and lacked the layers that makes Baklava so unique. Being Middle-Eastern, and growing up with this dessert, I prefer the Middle-Eastern Baklava, but both are delicious.