CEDAR CITY — Anyone who has uttered words like hummus, falafel or tzatziki in Iron County knows the look. Some stare bewildered and ask what language is that, or worse. Others associate them with similar healthy foods, like tofu.
In truth, Mediterranean foods such as these have for centuries used plant-based protein in diets with flavorful recipes in parts of the world where meat is not so plentiful.
So the last place many would think to find a healthy hummus bowl is at a restaurant named Pork Belly’s Eatery and Catering Co. While one might not find such foods there, Chris P. Bacon’s vegan girlfriend opened a new type of eatery next door.
When Kate and Eddie Meek moved to Cedar City more than eight years ago, they brought with them more than two decades of experience in the restaurant industry.
They started their first restaurant in Southern Utah featuring barbecued meats, chicken bombs, island tacos and funeral potatoes, among similar hearty dishes. Next door, they are now offering food with a Mediterranean twist.
The new store, 565 Hummus, sits next door to the barbecue restaurant on Main Street after the cell phone carrier that previously occupied the building left.
“We needed the space to expand our catering business and our landlords are really great,” Kate Meek told Cedar City News. “After we remodeled and got some new equipment and flooring, there was some extra space up front. I have always wanted to do this.”
By “this,” she means dishing out food that could be considered different to most palettes in Southern Utah.
“There is nothing like this in Cedar City,” she said. “My two youngest daughters are Greek and I have always loved the food we share together. It’s basic. It’s healthy. It’s fresh — raw ingredients. I get the Mediterranean seasonings locally from The Drunken Butcher.”
For those wondering about falafel? There was nothing awful about it, at least when taste-tested for the first time by this Cedar City News reporter.
“It is ground-up chickpeas with different spices and herbs — and then it’s deep-fried,” Meek said. “It is a protein option for vegan and vegetarian.”
The hummus bowls are served much like a salad, with a choice from three different types of hummus spread on the bottom, several options for greens and toppings, such as quinoa and pickled onions, then topped with tzatziki sauce and one choice of protein.
For those wanting traditional portions, chicken, beef and lamb are also protein options for flatbreads and gyros that are available, along with the bowls.
“We make our own tzatziki sauce and we marinate the tomatoes here. We eventually want to bring in some traditional Greek soups,” she said. “We wanted to bring healthier options.”
For the last two months, business has been growing as word has spread around town.
“We just put out that we are hiring,” Meek said. “I have several clients that come two times a week and they tell me how much better they feel. That is exciting, you’re not getting the grease and fatty content like eating fast food. Even the falafel is air-fried.”
While Eddie Meek was a bit reticent about the idea of opening this type of restaurant, they happened upon a similar establishment in Las Vegas not long before opening the new place. After seeing him squeamishly look at the menu, Kate Meek finally had to order for him.
“He wasn’t going to order,” she said. “I ordered the hummus bowl for him. And he’ll admit it now, it was one of the best things he’s ever had.”
565 Hummus can be found at 565 S. Main Street in Cedar City and is currently open Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. As demand increases, so will the hours of operation, she said.
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