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Mitch Renshaw | Sqew Shawarma Bar | Leeds | Manchester

@thatsqewguy

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Founder: @sqew.uk
Leventine Shawarma
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The personal diary of a hospitality entrepreneur building a world leading shawarma brand.

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DEATH OF THE BIG 50 — KIND OF.

The Big 50 was an afterthought. I’d already booked this trip.

I was heading to Jordan, Lebanon and Syria with around 80 restaurants pinned in Google Maps. The plan was simple: eat as much shawarma as physically possible and learn all I can.

But the fact is, scoring them just isn’t me.

The hospitality and generosity I’ve experienced in Jordan and Lebanon so far has been beyond heartwarming. People have opened their kitchens, shared their recipes, shown me their processes and treated me like one of their own

To then turn around and slate the ones that perhaps weren’t as good as others, all in the name of building an audience, just doesn’t sit right with me.

It didn’t come naturally.

Don’t worry though I’m I’m already 25 plus restaurants in and the content is flowing.

The journey continues, just without the score.

TSG taken in Amman, Jordan by @thatsqewguy

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a month ago

Which country does the best shawarma?

I’ve spent 10 years making it in Leeds but never spent a day finding out if I’m doing it right.

So I’ve flown halfway across the world to eat at 50 of the best and tell you exactly what I think.

Bread, char, meat, sauce, bite. Out of ten, one decimal.

Big name or backstreet, there’ll be no favourable scores.

All reviews posted on @thatsqewguy

TSG taken in Citadel Amman Jordan by @thatsqewguy

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a month ago

The Big 50 - Review #1

Feeling a bit daft now.

I scored this on a British palate. Been out here two days and there’s levels.

I’ll review Sqew again the day I’m back - Review 51.

TSG taken in Manchester, United Kingdom by @thatsqewguy

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a month ago

The Best Sqew Yet! 🔥

Sqew donst often do menu updates…
So when it does, it means something.

I just got back from Amman, Jordan 🇯🇴
On a full shawarma safari.
I was honestly left gobsmacked.

I knew straight away…
We had to bring this back to Sqew.

This new menu?
It’s the result of that trip.

If you thought Sqew was great before, get ready. This is, by a mile - the best Sqew yet.

New menu drops Monday 20th April

Authentic. Always.

Ps. Thanks Jordan for the hospitality and shawarma wisdom ❤️
Thanks @ste.v.o for the invite 🤝 taken in Sqew by @thatsqewguy

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6 months ago

Bite Twice rated Sqew… but what did they actually give us?

Bite Twice are some of the biggest, and more importantly most respected food reviewers in the country.

They’re known for proper, no-nonsense reviews. No freebies, no favours, and they always pay their bill.

Well, they came to Sqew!

Sent us a pic of them inside and then… crickets for 24 hours.

The next day, we saw the review…… 😅

Credit: @bitetwicefoodreviews 🤝 taken in Manchester, England, UK by @thatsqewguy

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a month ago

“Best shawarma I’ve ever eaten”

I own two shawarma Resturants in the UK
We are known for being Authtic
You’d assume the I’d eaten authtic Levantine shawarma in either Jordan, Lebanon, Syria etc
I hadn’t until this day, I say with shame.

This day was without fail one of my most favourite days to date - ever!

@almousalli1 is without doubt one of the best shawarmas I have ever eaten. It changed the whole way I look at shawarma.

It’s now a mission to launch Saj bread at @sqew.uk back home in the UK

TSG taken in Amman, Jordan by @thatsqewguy

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8 months ago

THE BIG 50 — #6
Shawarma Amman — Amman, Jordan 🇯🇴

This place holds a place in my heart. It brings back fond memories from my first trip to Amman.

As far as classic, quality Jordanian shawarma goes, these guys have nailed it.

Admittedly, there are a few spots in Downtown that haven’t quite got it right, but these guys are the exception.

Great people, great bread, great garlic, great chicken.

I’m a big fan.

TSG taken in Shawarma Amman - شاورما عمان by @thatsqewguy

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9 days ago

THE BIG 50 — #5 🇱🇧
Al Faisal — Tripoli, Lebanon

Turns out Tripoli has its own flavour.

Much like the rest of Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, I think it boils down to the ingredients available within that region.

This was citrus-heavy, forward with the lemon and orange.

Is it my favourite? Arguably not

I came to Lebanon looking for that traditional Lebanese shawarma taste, and this felt like it had a touch more Syrian influence than perhaps I was looking for in the moment.

Was it delicious? Like most of the shawarmas I eat

Travel a couple of hours and suddenly the shawarma changes again….

TSG taken in Tripoli, Lebanon by @thatsqewguy

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15 days ago

THE BIG 50 - #4
Tortilla - Amman, Jordan 🇯🇴

My first time trying horizontal shawarma cooked over charcoal.

Let me tell you, it’s exceptional. However……

The chicken was up there with some of the best I’ve had, and the operator and shawarma chef were some of the most skilled I’ve come across. These fellas know a thing or two about shawarma.

It’s called Tortilla for good reason, it’s served in a tortilla.

For me, being a purist, that lets it down a touch. Sure, there are tons of reasons why commercially this makes sense, but that’s not what I’m after.

Also, the toum was a touch too mayo-style for me.

Now, I’ve come to learn that Jordanian toum is heavy with starch and egg giving it a wonderful creamy texture. It’s also lighter on the garlic, with just a pleasant hint. I did think it could have been a bit bolder though.

Wonderful nevertheless, and a brilliant bunch.

TSG taken in Amman, Jordan by @thatsqewguy

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16 days ago

THE BIG 50 - #3 🇸🇾
ALMOUSSLLY, DAMASCUS

Is Syrian shawarma the best in the world?

I know the answer, but I won’t let on just yet.

What I can say is it’s beyond exceptional, but also incredibly diverse.

I’ve found that countries, regions and even cities tend to have their own “flavour” when it comes to shawarma. But Damascus wasn’t quite so clean cut.

Al Mousalli is top drawer.

The toum was a slight hybrid, sitting somewhere between that creamy, almost mayo-style Syrian toum and the highly emulsified, whipped Lebanese toum.

I’m a fan. A big one.

TSG taken in Damascus, Syria by @thatsqewguy

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21 days ago

TB50 #2 — Mano, Beirut 🇱🇧

And we’re off 🏇

Boy am I excited to get cracking with The Big 50.

Number 2, and we’re at one of the most requested shawarma gaffs of the whole trip, Mano in Bourj Hammoud, Beirut.

This one came with creamy toum, beautifully savoury chicken and a proper sharp hit of lemon cutting straight through it.

A spectacular bite.

TSG

Basterma Mano
Municipality Street, Blanco Center, Bourj Hammoud, Lebanon
Established 1966 taken in Basterma Mano by @thatsqewguy

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25 days ago

You: Enjoy eating shawarma in Lebanon

Me: I’ll enjoy making it.

❤️🇱🇧

Abou Sobhi x TSG taken in Abou Sobhi by @thatsqewguy

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a month ago