October 10, 2024

Loumies in Ithaca delivers Levantine cuisine to Collegetown

Loumies in Ithaca delivers Levantine cuisine to Collegetown

Tucked on the floor ground of a cinder block creating subsequent to a row of dining places and a parking garage on Dryden Street, Loumies’ glass storefront is at the heart of Collegetown’s buzz.

The pink and orange emblem on the window invitations folks in to delight in a warm plate of Levantine food and a heat smile from lead chef Rania Kaldi.   

“I really like cooking. I adore inviting people. I adore assembly people,” she says. 

What begun off as an interest for Rania –– she’s a previous promoting supervisor at luxury organizations in Dubai –– turned into a significant career shift that introduced her to Ithaca. Every single job adjust and move led her one stage closer to her knowing her goals of starting up a cafe. 

Loumies in Ithaca delivers Levantine cuisine to Collegetown

Rania and Raed Kaldi: Group powering Loumies

A vacation to check out relatives in upstate New York would at some point guide Rania to a significant move that would build Loumies as a burgeoning staple of Mediterranean, Center Eastern and other Levantine cuisines, some of which reflect the recipes from Rania’s birthplace, Lebanon.  

“I fell in love (with Ithaca),” Rania said. Its attractive blooming trees, change in tempo from New York City life and the faculty system are what sealed the offer, as she required a a lot more suitable education procedure for her 8-12 months-old.