Who would guess that one could find a piece of the Lebanese paradise village called Kornayel in Tecumseh? Pita Delight Grill owner Ali Alaawar not only brings the unmatched culinary flavors of his hometown thousands of miles away, but also gives his patrons an idea of the generous, proud, hospitable spirit of the Lebanese people.
Kornayel is a mountainous village known for its pine forests, gorgeous lakes, and summer activities and festivals. Ali describes growing up there with fond memories of nice weather; beautiful scenery; incredible food; and a warm, tight-knit community of family and friends. On a typical day, Ali's school schedule, studying, and playing with neighborhood friends were interrupted only by his mom's amazing homecooked meals, enjoyed at the family table with his parents and four siblings where they talked about life.
Traditional dishes like tabbouleh, kibbeh, fattoush, kafta, and hummus were often on the table, and it wasn't long before Ali's passion for learning how to cook took hold. As a young teenager, his mom began to show him how to combine fresh, healthy ingredients with distinct and delicious flavors like lemon juice, garlic, tahini, parsley, olive oil, sumac, and mint.
After finishing school in his hometown and completing bachelor's and master's degrees in Europe, the path of his life took shape with a visit to the United States. Almost 25 years ago, Ali was invited to come to this country to visit an extended family member who owned a restaurant. Ali loved it here and saw that there were many opportunities in the food industry that would allow him to combine his passion for cooking with the freedom and independence of business ownership.
So the hard work began. Business ownership became a highly sought after goal for Ali. Feeling fortunate to have been raised and educated with the bar consistently set high and in a country that has always shown strong resilience, Ali worked toward this goal and achieved it.
Business started small with the purchase of a food truck. Ali traveled all over Michigan to fairs, festivals, farmers markets, and beyond, introducing place after place to the most addictive garlic sauce, teaching folks how to pronounce the word "shawarma," and offering pickles different than his customers had ever tasted before. Soon, local businesses were requesting that Ali bring his food truck to their parking lots in order to complement their menus, patrons began asking where they could find him next, and private event bookings were filling the calendar.
Throughout experiencing this success, though, one place in particular began to feel like a home away from home. Tecumseh's Farmers Market, Appleumpkin Festival, and beautiful downtown area drew a crowd of truly warm, welcoming people who were especially excited and open to the food that Ali so proudly delivered. He happily found himself having regulars who were hungry for more and decided that this should be the place to continue to build the dream. The next goal on the horizon: a brick-and-mortar restaurant on Chicago Boulevard. Ali turned a doll collector's store into a fully functioning restaurant, and Pita Delight Grill opened its doors in October of 2022.
Experience has been Ali's teacher and restaurant ownership surely comes with inevitable and mighty challenges, but the reward is greater than he could have ever dreamed. Pita Delight Grill customers come from near and far to support his small business and to show an honest and caring desire to get to know Ali and his staff.
They often make an effort to pass by the line (where Ali is sure to be standing daily, preparing food) as they come and go to say "Hello" and compliment him on a meal well made. Ali, in turn, pays close attention to making sure each meal is deliciously presented and knows his customers very well: their jobs; their families; their health; and, of course, their orders. He has memorized hundreds of his most frequent customers' usual choices.
There is a famous Lebanese saying: "Min ouyouni." It literally means "from my eyes." It is used to express "I will do it for you with joy" and explains perfectly Ali's intrinsic desire to work hard and serve people. His vision has always been to invite people to sit, share food, and join in the community's daily life. This is what Ali was raised on and what he set out to recreate in Tecumseh, and he feels so blessed by the support that he has received by the open-armed and open-minded community that has allowed him to achieve it.
And, in case you've ever wondered why Pita Delight Grill's famous hummus, garlic sauce, and lentil soup feel like a mom's warm hug, although she is still living in their family home in Kornayel, it is Ali's mom's recipes that he is handing down to us and treating us to each day. What a delight!
So often, we see countries in the news, places "over there" that seem distant, thousands of miles away. And they are, on the world map, but not so much when it comes to our shared humanity. Lebanon is one of the names often appearing in headlines. But, beyond those, there is life — people raising families, passing down traditions, and dreaming dreams. The stories of individuals from those faraway lands are a reminder that, amid all of our differences, we can find common ground. We extend thanks to Ali Alaawar for sharing his story and to a guest contributor for so beautifully capturing it.
