Baba Ghannouj

Baba Ghannouj is a Middle Eastern dip made from roasted eggplant, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. It has a smooth, creamy texture and a smoky, nutty flavor that makes it a popular appetizer or snack.


Producer notes:
When Joe Chahine & his wife Jocelyne came from Lebanon to Pittsburgh for their honeymoon in 1974, they had no idea this month-long vacation would become their American Dream. Following the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War, Joe stayed in Pittsburgh and began working at his brother’s bakery, which opened in 1969. Joe would eventually go on to buy the business from his brother and open Pitaland, one of Brookline’s most enduring businesses and a neighborhood landmark. It’s been 50 years since his brother first opened that small bakery, and plenty has changed since then. Joe’s four children, Danny Chahine, Donna Tweardy, Aleen Atencio, and Joey Chahine now help run the business, and Pitaland has expanded to add a fully functioning kitchen, automated pita bakery, café, grocery store, catering service, and wholesale retailer specializing in Mediterranean & Middle Eastern cuisine.