• Mimi’s Hummus

  1209 Cortelyou Rd., nr. Westminster Rd., Ditmas Park; 718-284-4444

  The great Israeli hummus boom of the last five years or so has opened New York’s eyes to the richly decadent potential of what was once viewed as hippie-commune health food. We’ve had great, creamy, oil-dappled versions at Hummus Place, Taïm, Hoomoos Asli, and the late Hadom, but we’ll still happily trek out to central Brooklyn for a bowl of Mimi Kitani’s luscious chickpea purée, served up in five distinctive versions, all accompanied by hot, fluffy pitas that disappear too fast. For its exquisite balance of delicate seasoning and sheer heft, the meat rendition is our favorite, garnished with cinnamon-spiced ground beef and a smattering of pine nuts.

From the 2010 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine