By LISA STARK
Contributing Writer/Photographer
If you’ve got a taste for something healthy, delicious and different, the Mediterranean cuisine of Pita Kebob in Apollo Beach may just be your answer. Serving a wide range of dishes from cultures adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea, including Greece, Egypt, Spain and Italy, Pita Kebob has become a favorite among patrons looking for a touch of the exotic.
Moroccan-born chef and owner Khalid Abouelhouda recently shared his special recipe for his creamy hummus appetizer on Bay News 9’s Chef’s Kitchen. A tasty combination of garbanzo beans, garlic, salt, cumin, black pepper, lemon juice and tahini, this healthy dish can be re-created in anyone’s kitchen and served as an appetizer or side dish. The two-minute Bay News 9 TV segment ran periodically all day Dec. 10 and cast a spotlight not only on Abouelhouda’s signature dish but also on his family-owned restaurant in Apollo Beach.
Formerly from New York City, Abouelhouda moved his family to Florida three years ago in search of a way to combine his love of food with the perfect location for a successful business. Now a resident of Ruskin, Abouelhouda shares his “American dream” with wife Siham and his two children, Ayoub, 6, and Yuness, 4.
“I was an elementary school teacher for several years, but decided to take a break to begin this adventure,” he said, describing his years of working in restaurants to support himself through college, and learning to cook in a variety of different cuisines.
Asked why he chose Apollo Beach for his new venture, Abouelhouda said: “A lot of my customers are from large cities where they have the sophistication of sampling different cuisines and cultures. This area didn’t have that.”
Pita Kebob serves lunch and dinner at reasonable prices in a casual, “café” atmosphere. Everything is cooked to order with fresh ingredients. Their menu features appetizers such as sautéed spinach leaves, baba ghanoush, eggplant, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, tzatziki and takttouka.
Lunch and dinner items include pita sandwiches, chicken kebobs, grilled lamb gyros, kofta, beef and lamb kebobs, shawarma and grilled filet of tilapia sandwich, any of which can be paired with pita bread, herbed rice, salad and choice of appetizer to create a hearty dinner platter. For diners desiring a lighter fare, Pita Kebob’s salads are a mixture of healthy ingredients and special spices. The Greek salad is a local favorite, and can be topped with a choice of beef, chicken or extra feta cheese.
Many of Abouelhouda’s repeat customers are local business people who are “on the go” and need a fresh but quick lunch. Pita Kebob delivers just that.
Abouelhouda also stresses personal, friendly service. “Customers are my number one priority,” he said with a smile. “I am the face of the business, and I have customers who enjoy coming in to see me as much as for my food.”
Abouelhouda credits his upbringing in Morocco for giving him the taste for exotic flavors. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, just two hours from southern Spain, Morocco was once a French colony and is still marked with French and Spanish influences.
“The Moroccan cuisine uses many different spices, and that’s what gives it a richness of flavor,” said Abouelhouda. “I can make a hamburger taste like nothing you’ve ever had, all because of the spices I use.” Abouelhouda’s parents and siblings still live in Morocco, and Abouelhouda enjoys going back to his home country as often as possible to visit.
Pita Kebob is open daily from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. and is at 243 Apollo Beach Blvd. in Apollo Beach. Take-out and catering are also available. For more information, visit its website at www.pitakebob.com or call 813-419-4926.