Having a bad day at work or school? Don't pay for therapy, seek out the Knafeh bearded bakers instead and you'll be bitten by the happy bug instantly! I stumbled across them at the Preston food truck park and again in the cbd (twice in one week, how lucky am I?!)
They are not actually a regular food truck but a shipping container turned portable commercial bakery (I'd be keen to see how it gets transported around) churning out one special dish only - knafeh. I'll let you google what that actually is, but I tried it for the first time this year somewhere else in Melbourne and while I found it interesting, it was WAY too sweet! And although it is nothing like a baklava, it still reminded me of baklava, in that it was very dense and drenched in sugar syrup, with a very distinct, sharp flavour that I wasn't too familiar with. Hence I was expecting the same deal with these boys.
Thankfully, their version was totally different, much lighter and fluffier, definitely not as sweet but would satisfy any sugar craving, and the crispy golden top layer and custard-like cheesy interior was gentle on the palate. I could be wrong, but my guess is that their knafeh has been modified to appeal to a wider market, which makes sense considering they are only selling one product. Whatever the case may be, I think they've got the recipe for success!
Part of that recipe includes singing, dancing and cracking jokes... we're talking an all-in-one entertainment package here! Forget the nightclubs, Knafeh drops the best rnb dance tracks with some traditional Middle Eastern music thrown into the mix, and they encourage audience participation. If your hips don't start gyrating when they are around, or you're immune to their contagious spread of laughter, there's something wrong with you, see a doctor Asap!
Finally, if you don't go for the food or the entertainment, at the very least, check out the beards. Seriously WILD! Otherwise, try out a knafeh and have fun!! :) read more