Zaytoon Mediterranean Cafe

My wife, Annah, and I first connected with organic and health foods in the early nineties. We discovered that in eating these foods—less sugary foods, fresh, seasonal vegetables and quality ingredients—the flavors of our Palestinian homeland started surfacing. Fresh pita bread dipped in quality cold pressed olive oil brings out the rich flavor of olives like those from the orchards of my village. A bowl of salad with a fresh, locally grown tomato reminds me of the salads my mother made in our kitchen. Through these connections, the picture became clear that the traditional, Mediterranean way of eating ties up very well with eating a diet of healthy, organic, local foods. Now in our own kitchen at Zaytoon, we are determined to bring the Greensboro community and its visitors a healthy and tastier bite of food at an affordable price. Buying local foods is an essential element of our food philosophy. As we have come to know and love living in Greensboro, we have learned the importance and value of buying our ingredients from within the local community. Our dream is not to become another million-dollar chain restaurant, but to be proud and supportive members of the Greensboro community by sharing healthy and delicious foods from our homeland. —Masoud Awartani