Pop-up restaurateur and hummus expert chef Tom Sarafian is joining forces with hospitality titan Nathan Toleman of the Mulberry Group to open two full-time restaurants this winter in Melbourne – a restaurant and bar inspired by Tom’s grandfather, Zareh, and a daytime eatery and deli proudly bearing the Sarafian name.

At Zareh, get a taste of Sarafian’s trademark Middle Eastern dishes woven with the traditions of his family and heritage, spanning from the Levant to the Caucasus and North Africa. Using top-notch local produce cooked over a custom Armenian barbecue and seasoned with spice blends imported directly from Lebanon, Sarafian will serve up his creative take on Armenian recipes plus a swag of regional breads from around the coast.

“Zareh, named after my grandfather, who was also a chef and brought my Armenian family to Melbourne from Egypt, holds a special place in my heart. I’ve always been inspired by the flavours of my upbringing – Arabic and Armenian dishes – and I’m proud to dedicate this restaurant to him and my family,” Sarafian said of the first of two new restaurants.

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Meanwhile, Sarafian (the restaurant) will expand the chef’s brilliant product line of smooth handmade hummus, garlicky toum, and addictively spicy harissa into a laid back eatery and deli. Expect Sarafian’s (the chef) own crafted produce like yoghurt, cheeses, jams, and cured meats, along with a selection of goods sourced from small producers and organic farms in Lebanon.

Whether you’re keen on an authentic Arabic breakfast, a quick sandwich, or shopping for artisan goods to show off at your next dinner party, Sarafian has you covered from morning till evening. Oh, and his ever-popular king prawn and spanner crab hummus is making a return to the menu.

It may be the end of pop ups for Sarafian but now you can get your hummus hit any time.

Locations and opening dates of both Zareh and Sarafian are yet to be announced but stay tuned for more details very soon.

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