Bustan to Host Chickpea-Centric Festival, 5/13-15

Bustan, Manhattan's new Upper West contemporary pan-Mediterranean restaurant will salute today's International Hummus Day, as well as May 15's National Hummus Day, with its First Annual Hummus Festival, featuring a special menu of 16 iterations of the Middle Eastern chickpea based classic, including two desserts. For the festival - May 13 through 15 - Executive Chef Efi Nahon created imaginative new versions of his award-winning hummus with such unconventional components as: schwarma style crab; chopped grilled merquez;, duck prosciutto; grilled tomato salsa; and grilled octopus. The savory options, priced from $11 to $19, will be presented with Bustan's fresh-from-the-taboon-oven bread and will serve two to three as an appetizer or one person as an entree.

The Bustan Hummus Festival Menu was designed by Nahon to demonstrate his conviction that protein-packed, protein-rich and gluten-free hummus "goes with most anything, which is why at home in Israel it's eaten at breakfast, lunch and dinner." His view of hummus's versatility is being increasingly adopted by Americans as they seek healthier foods that deliver on rich, satisfying flavor. The sales of hummus in the U.S. have sky-rocketed in recent years and the dish's is showing up on menus across the culinary bar, including that of chain restaurants and New York City's neighborhood Irish bars.

Highlights of Bustan's Hummus Festival menu include: Grilled Octopus, Fire Roasted Tomato & Sunny-Side Up Egg; Fully Loaded Crispy Potato, Duck Prosciutto & Fresh Salsa; Chopped Seared Steak, Poached Egg & Chipollini Confit; Shawarma Style Crab, Spinach & Chickpea; and Tahini Ice Cream, Candied Kumquats, Caramelized Chickpeas & Bittersweet Black Tahini.

The Bustan Hummus Festival Menu will is available nightly for dinner, in addition to Bustan's full a la carte menu, from Tuesday May 13 through Thursday May 15. Dinner hours are 5 to 11 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. 5 p.m. to midnight on Thursday. Bustan is located at 487 Amsterdam Avenue, between 83rd and 84th Streets, New York, NY 10024. For more information and reservations call (212) 595-5050 or visit www.bustannyc.com.