Shatila Bakery Dearborn, MI

Dearborn Michigan is home to Ford Motor Company and happens to be the heart of the middle-eastern diaspora in the US; also obviously home to hundreds of middle-eastern businesses, grocery stores, bakeries and restaurants. But the one store that is arguably the crown jewel of

all Dearborn businesses is the Shatila Bakery. Driving down Warren Ave. in Dearborn, you are transported to a different world all together. Shops sporting artificial minarets with Arabic signs abound and distinctly middle eastern shopping (Lebanese, Syrian, Iraqi, Jordanian etc); think arabic grocery store chains, arab laundries and car washes and tiny eateries with names like "Mr. Shawarma" and "Pita Hut". But its hard to miss the shiny upscale rotunda shaped

Shatila outlet standing out like a beacon admist the rather drab strip malls. Step in and you are transported to a glitzy faux middle eastern world complete with fake palm trees, granite and gilded trim all over. Don't waste too much time getting a ticket from the dispenser; the place can get real crazy during peak times like holiday weekends. As you wait for your ticket number to be called, you can't help but be taken aback but the sheer multitude

of Lebanese sweets.. If you are a diabetic, this is absolutely a no-entry zone. And if you're not, be prepared to leave with it! Ok, there are some savory options available like the fried meat kibbeh, spinach, meat and chicken pies (like Monginis mini pizzas; only thinner crusts) topped with zahtar and some merely with labneh and zahtaar for those looking for alternatives.

Of course, their Baklava is their claim to fame; these are not your run of the mill syrupy sweet ones sitting lonesome on the counter

waiting to be consumed.

This is after all, Baklava Central; home to over 30 varieties of the much loved sweet available in all shapes and varieties. There is the traditional diamond shaped walnut filled baklava; then there are ones with creative names like 'Bird's Nest' - pistachios packed in like sardines in a can into the phyllo pastry, and then some shaped like the barfis in Indian sweet store with barely pronounceable names like 'Osmaliah' (crispy honey soaked vermicilli enrobed around a cream 'sandwich' served with rose syrup pictured above) and 'Ballourie'. First timers will surely want to get it all; possible via their "Mixed Trays"; assortments of the baklava pastries. Highly recommended are the Bassma, the Burrma and the birds nest. There are lots of other goodies made out of dates, honey and nuts such as the mamoul, the Kashta; even a

Pistachio topped rice pudding (see pic). What sets them apart is the fact that they seem to use clarified butter a.k.a. 'Ghee' instead of mere butter that everyone else uses here in the US for baklava. That and the supreme quality of nuts used makes them easily the best baklava in the US.On the other side are exotic looking fancy European pastries, chocolate eclairs, Swiss logs, tiramisus, fresh fruit topped parfaits and chocolate mouse amongst others. A third counter vends their extremely popular and very unique ice creams with a middle-eastern twist; rose flavors, mango, coconut and others - all with a rose flavor base. We weren't big fans of the ice cream though and would take a pass. For those of you unable to make the trip to Detroit and Dearborn,

Shatila will gladly ship most of their products by overnight shipping.

Shatila Bakery
14300 W Warren Ave.

Dearborn, MI 48126

http://www.shatila.com/