[Holly Moore]

I've gotten hooked on a wonderful openfaced sandwich prepared by the Philadelphia Java Company on 4th Street just north of South

The call it the Labneh Sandwich and credit it to the Levent district of Istanbul. A bit of web searching indicates this sandwich is popular throughout the Mideast.

Lebneh is yogurt cheese, prepared by adding salt to fresh yoghurt, placing it in cheese cloth and letting it drain overnight. The Philadelphia Java company lays a thick layer of labneh on a thick slice of french bread, arranges marinated olive halves on the labneh, sprinkles with mint, and drizzles the sandwich with olive oil.

It's a clean tasting, tangy sandwich, perfect for awakening one's tastebuds on a Sunday spring morn.



Photo Copyright 2003 - HollyEats.Com

[Andrew Fenton]

I love the Philadelphia Java Co.! Good coffee and wonderfully friendly owners who have done a lot to renovate the space; I'm in there two or three days a week.

Never tried the labneh, though: maybe next time...

[grill-it]

Sounds delicious! I don't live anywhere near Phillie, so I think I'll try a homemade version for lunch.
Mmmm, can't wait - thanks for the post!

This post has been edited by grill-it: 11 May 2003 - 12:11 PM

[Jason Perlow]

Sounds like a cool alternative topping for Sunday bagels instead of the standard cream cheese and lox.

[herbacidal]

it is interesting, not much for olives myself.

used to like phila java. then a few months ago, sometime after the renovations,
stopped in for coffee, barista guy was completely inhospitable.

wouldn't answer questions, surly service.

will probably give it another chance when i'm in area, because i always like the independents.

[Holly Moore]

Very surprised to hear the barista guy was surly. I've found them all to be darn friendly.

Eat your olives. They're good for you.

[hollywood]

I'm confused. I thought labneh was a pizza looking deal. Hunh?

[herbacidal]

Holly Moore, on May 12 2003, 11:57 AM, said:

Very surprised to hear the barista guy was surly.  I've found them all to be darn friendly.

Eat your olives.  They're good for you.

was my first surly one. coulda been bad day or something, just doesn't excuse it.

i eat lots of stuff that's good for me.
i also eat lots of stuff that's bad for me.
i eat what i like.
some of it happens to be good for me.
some of it ain't so healthy.


fruit, vegetables, water, olive oil
pork fat, butter, bread

[Holly Moore]

Quote

I'm confused. I thought labneh was a pizza looking deal. Hunh?

Same answer I gave you before on Cinco de Mayo. Not in Philadelphia

Actually, Labneh is the fresh cheese made from yogurt. It has a cream cheese like texture. In the Middle East I suspect they often spread it on pita, giving it a pizza like appearance. Perhaps that is your experience. I think I prefer it on the bread used by Philadelphia Java Company. Pita would be heavier I suspect.

This post has been edited by Holly Moore: 12 May 2003 - 10:21 AM

[herbacidal]

hollywood, on May 12 2003, 12:06 PM, said:

I'm confused.  I thought labneh was a pizza looking deal.  Hunh?

true, it looks like pizza to me too, before reading.

but the cheese ain't melted enough.

didja look at holly's description?

[Holly Moore]

Cheese isn't melted at all. Just slathered on like cream cheese.

[herbacidal]

Holly Moore, on May 12 2003, 12:22 PM, said:

Cheese isn't melted at all.  Just slathered on like cream cheese.

i wasn't sure if it was melted at all, at least on purpose.

so labneh is a type of cheese, non-solid enough to be spreadable when cold.

is that correct?

[hollywood]

Holly Moore, on May 12 2003, 10:20 AM, said:

Quote

I'm confused. I thought labneh was a pizza looking deal. Hunh?

Same answer I gave you before on Cinco de Mayo. Not in Philadelphia

Actually, Labneh is the fresh cheese made from yogurt. It has a cream cheese like texture. In the Middle East I suspect they often spread it on pita, giving it a pizza like appearance. Perhaps that is your experience. I think I prefer it on the bread used by Philadelphia Java Company. Pita would be heavier I suspect.

You're right. I was thinking of lahmejun --which is a pizza.

[Holly Moore]

herbacidal, on May 12 2003, 01:30 PM, said:

so labneh is a type of cheese, non-solid enough to be spreadable when cold.

is that correct?

Yes

[Andrew Fenton]

herbacidal, on May 12 2003, 10:30 AM, said:

so labneh is a type of cheese, non-solid enough to be spreadable when cold.

is that correct?

It's also very easy and satisfying to make at home...

[cdh]

That sandwich reminds me of the cream cheese and olive sandwiches I ate as a little kid. Haven't had one of them since, probably, fourth grade... but they were good... probably fell out of the dietary habit as my mom got turned off to fat as the health craze spread across the mind of America.

That really looks like a grown-up version of food I ate long ago. Now that there are better olives than just the pimento-stuffed brine-in-the-jar kind, I might have to start experimenting with that sandwich again. hmmmm...

[herbacidal]

cdh, on May 12 2003, 01:24 PM, said:

That sandwich reminds me of the cream cheese and olive sandwiches I ate as a little kid.

to my chinese-american sensibilities, that sounds nasty. but i'm sure i've had tons of stuff others would consider inedible.

[hollywood]

herbacidal, on May 12 2003, 11:41 AM, said:

cdh, on May 12 2003, 01:24 PM, said:

That sandwich reminds me of the cream cheese and olive sandwiches I ate as a little kid.

to my chinese-american sensibilities, that sounds nasty. but i'm sure i've had tons of stuff others would consider inedible.

Speaking of Chinese, Ruen Pair (Thai) in LA makes something called Chinese Olives and Pork--very tasty.