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13C Bar in the Back

Amman

Interactive food-and-wine pairing experience

On the Pass

Omar Habib Allah (right)

The owners: A sommelier, a winemaker and a wine trader joined forces with a restaurateur to create 13C Bar in the Back, which offers a ‘highly interactive food-and-wine pairing experience’ to complement their wine shop and tasting room. The team believes that wine is best enjoyed with good food and friends, so it has created an environment that is welcoming, fun and conducive to wine tasting.

The concept: Inspired by the Mediterranean with hints of the Levant, the menu offers small ‘izakaya-style’ plates. Standout dishes include grape molasses eggplant, lamb chops with salsa verde and dijon mustard chicken. Patrons can purchase a bottle from the wine shop and enjoy it with their meal or they can opt for some of the flights or pairings on the menu.

Parings and more: The menu was created with wines, spirits and cocktails in mind and allows diners to create and curate their own pairing experience. It is based on wine flavour profiles, with titles such as ‘Fresh and Crisp’ for salads, ‘Supple and Lively’ for heavier appetizers and ‘Bold and Meaty’ for meats. Each menu section includes a list of suggested wines – the goal is to make the experience fun, educational and unintimidating.

What’s the vibe?  The outdoor patio is cosy and inviting; inside, blonde-wood accents and exposed beams surround an oval-shaped marble-topped bar that offers patrons more focused one-to-one service.

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