Qwaider Al Nabulsi is an unremarkable place, at first glance.

The clue is in the glamorous Indian woman standing out front waxing lyrical to a group of hungry looking tourists.

The setting is a Palestinian-Jordanian restaurant in Dubai (Qwaider Al Nabulsi, Al Muraqabat Street; +971 4227 5559), the tourists are refugees from the city's culinary mainstream, and the woman is Arva Ahmed - underground food guide extraordinaire.

Ahmed is talking about the history and variety of Middle Eastern cooking.
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Kebabs: the food of ancient Ottoman emperors, Persian courts and, in recent times, inebriated persons.

In much of the Western world, particularly Europe, the kebab has become the must-have meal for all variety of people falling out of pubs and clubs between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

This couldn’t be further from the situation in the Middle East. Here, grilled meat served with salad and flatbread or rice is a meal for all the family.

Find out where 5 of the world's best kebab joints are on CNN Travel.

Editor's note: Each month, Inside the Middle East takes you behind the headlines to see a different side of this diverse region. Follow us on on Twitter: Presenter Rima Maktabi: @rimamaktabi, producer Jon Jensen: @jonjensen, digital producer Mairi Mackay @mairicnn and writer Cat Davies @catrionadavies

Yasser Jad has a dream to open a fine dining cookery school in Saudi Arabia.

He founded the Saudi Arabian Chefs Association three years ago to create a network among his country's best cooks and encourage them to improve their skills and now has 270 members.

But he believes there's more to do in developing fine dining.

Read the full story: "Saudi foodies ditch fast food for fine dining"

Carefully sliced meats are tenderized and cooked over flames. Simmering vegetables intermingle in appetizing combinations as they prepare to accompany comforting foods like steak and potatoes. Pastries form eye-catching designs, as if they were placed there to serve as centerpieces.

Photographer and iReporter Sean Blake's account of his visit to The Butcher Shop & Grill is told through still images, plus a bit of glowing praise.

"I would like to unofficially change the name of this place to 'The Immaculate, Super Fresh, Awesome, Never Go Home Hungry, Definitely Will Go Back, Butcher Shop & Grill,'" he writes.
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