Sama Ansari Pour

If you’re looking for a brunch spot that’ll impress your date far more than a fancy Mayfair restaurant, Aram is the one. The eastern Mediterranean café is the latest venture from chef Imad Alarnab, who fled wartorn Syria a decade ago, before opening Imad’s Syrian Kitchen in Soho. At Aram you can taste the rich flavours of his homeland in everything from zaatar croissants, to olive and feta danishes. Set in the grand Somerset House, you’ll feel like you’re eating inside a stately home, with tall ceilings and huge windows flooding the room with light. Get used to the taste of pomegranates – they’re a running theme at Aram I typically avoid anything to do with raisins, but curiosity got the better of me and I ordered the carrot and raisin salad. Thinly shaved carrots and raisins tossed in a tangy pomegranate molasses and vinegar dressing: it was sweet, savoury, a tad bit sour, and the best thing I ate.  Get used to the taste of pomegranates – they’re a running theme at Aram. Another must-order is the zaatar croissant, stuffed with fried egg, grilled sumac tomatoes and halloumi smothered in, of course, pomegranate molasses. If you’re here on a first date, it’s the kind of dish that will almost certainly secure a second meet-up. It’s buttery and herby from the croissant, rich from the runny yolk and moreish thanks to the salty halloumi.  As a Middle Eastern girl, rose isn’t a new flavour to me, and I was particularly happy to see pistachio and rose cake on the menu. Dare I say, i

Every year, Time Out surveys thousands of people around the world to come up with an annual ranking of the world’s greatest cities. This year, for the first time, Time Out discovered which locations were best for Gen Z by asking people under 30 what they thought about their city’s nightlife, food, culture, access to green spaces, and walkability.  It turns out that the UK’s best city for Gen Z is Edinburgh, with London coming in a not-too-bad second place.  To celebrate London's high ranking placement, we asked Sama Ansari Pour, a Gen Z journalist and content creator who has been eating her way through a host of global cuisines on her TikTok, to recommend her five favourite meals for under £10 in the city.  1. Caspian Lounge, Finchley   What is it? One of the few places in London to score authentic Iranian street food. Why Sama loves it: Western eats (think burgers and hot dogs) meet Iranian flavours. saffron-marinated chicken burgers, thick beef Iranian sausage hot dogs topped with a healthy amount of yogurt and dill sauce. Traditional Iranian dishes like kotlet (potato and meat patties) and olivieh (potato salad) are stuffed into sandwiches that’ll keep you full all day, but the best thing to order is their special hotdog – tender beef sausage stuffed in a freshly baked baguette with layers of cheese and crunchy vegetables. Thank me later.  Sama’s tip: Skip the sides (fries and salad) and spend that money on fresh pomegranate juice instead.  Address: 427 High Road, Finchley