Good morning, Last week we covered stocking up at Mediterranean and Middle Eastern markets. This week, let’s put those ingredients to use with one of the best low-stress ways to host: a mezze spread.

HOSTING TIP 🍴

Mezze table spreads

Instead of one plated entrée, fill the table with dips, breads, vegetables, and small bites. Guests can graze, mix, and match, turning the meal into a relaxed, social experience.

What to include

Core dips: hummus, baba ghanoush, tzatziki or labneh, olive tapenade or muhammara
Vegetables & pickles: cucumbers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, olives, pickled turnips or peppers
Breads & scoops: warm pita, lavash, flatbread, or crackers
Proteins & hearty bites: chicken skewers, kofte or meatballs, falafel, cheeses like feta or halloumi
Finishing touches: fresh herbs, toasted nuts, olive oil drizzle, za’atar or dukkah

Why it works: Everything can be prepped ahead, served room temp, and arranged last-minute for a full, colorful table that feels generous without being complicated.

Pro move: Aim for variety — creamy, smoky, tangy, and crunchy elements all on one table keep every bite exciting.

RECIPE RECOMMENDATIONS ✅

Kebabs collection

Looking for something to pair with your mezze spread? Check out our kebab collection on Cook Well:

Cook the Collection

FOOD TRENDS 🚀

Tanghulu

Why do people love tanghulu so much?

Tanghulu is a popular Chinese street food snack - it turns fruit into a colorful candied treat by covering it in a sugar candy shell. Though originally made with hawthorne berries, the technique has been applied to all kinds of fruits: strawberries, grapes, kiwi, and even citrus.

People love tanghulu for a variety of reasons:

Flavor — it has a satisfying crunch and balances the tartness of the fruit with the sugar.
Visual appeal — its bright, vibrant appearance adds to its curb appeal, making it as fun to look at as it is to eat.
It’s easy to recreate at home — all you need is fruit, skewers, sugar and water.

A takeaway for home cooking is that adding a textural element can make even simple ingredients way more satisfying.