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Gas station draws hummus lovers

Trust us when we say, looks can be deceiving.

What was once a simply a hidden gem a local gas station – has become a hotspot for a middle eastern treat.

And trust us when we say, looks can be deceiving.

“Don’t knock it until you try it,” Muntaha Dari said. “If you try it, then you can knock it.”

Dari is the woman behind Mama Mary’s Hummus inside the Sunoco gas station on Columbia Road in Olmsted Falls. She’s been sharing the dish with her family for years, but only introduced it to customers about five years ago --

“I have customers who come in here and say if you make it, we’ll eat it,” Dari said. “Even if it’s in a gas station.

Customers have been raving about gas station hummus on NEO Foodies’ Facebook page. Since then, making Mama Mary’s hummus has become a full-time job, seven days a week.

Dari said the passion for cooking comes from the family tradition of sharing Palestinian recipes with family and friends.

“I’m proud of our culture, our culture as Palestinians, and I like to share it.”

The recipe has been shared with her sister who sells the hummus at another family-owned Sunoco location in Willoughby.

The traditional hummus is a favorite among customers, but the secret recipe in combination with the variety of flavors is what gives Mama Mary’s hummus an edge over others.

Flavor Combinations:

  • Garlic
  • Pomegranate
  • Roasted Red Pepper
  • Spicy (known as "shutta")
  • Sun-dried Tomatoes
  • Cranberry
  • Black olives and Thyme
  • Kalamata Olives and Feta

Dari even takes requests from her customers.

They requested chocolate hummus,” Dari said. “Whatever my customers request, I try.”

A limited amount of chocolate hummus will be available at the Sunoco gas station for Valentine’s Day.

And yes, we asked. She’s not sharing her secret recipe.

“If I share it then I’ll have nothing to do."

You can follow Mama Mary's journey here.

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