Food & Drink: In search of the ultimate hummus

Then came the hummus; it was smooth and creamy and had a strong, nutty, sesame flavor from the tahini and softer notes of lemon and garlic. It was accompanied with round pillowy disks of pita bread fresh from the oven that warmed our hands as we pulled them apart and swirled them in the rich hummus.

• Hopworks Urban Brewery:

This hummus plate came to the table as a rainbow of bright colors. As we sampled our way around the plate, we found it to be a luscious mix of textures and flavors.

The hummus was very garlic forward and had a creamy, pulsed consistency enhanced with a topping of fresh, herby, chopped scallions and fiery smoked paprika. The tomatoes and carrots were fresh. The kalamata olives and the artichoke hearts were briny and luscious.

But the feta cheese really took the whole plate to the next level. The feta cheese was rich and crumbly, creamy and tangy — it was extraordinary.

I highly recommend pairing the hummus plate with a pint of HUB’s Organic IPX Single Hop Ale, which is mixed into the hummus.

• Ben’s Bottle Shop:

Ben’s was the last stop on this hummus tour. At this point, I didn’t think I could eat any more hummus. I felt that if you cut me, tahini specked with garlic and lemon would pour from my veins. I had hit the hummus wall.

Then the hummus plate appeared. The hummus was a round ball of chunky chickpea dip topped with a twisted slice of fresh lemon that looked like a bow tie worn by a character in the game Candy Land. I dipped my fork into the hummus ball and tasted chickpeas swirled with beads of garlic and squirts of fresh lemon juice.

This hummus came with warm, oniony pita wedges, fresh cucumber and tomato, pickled pepperoncini, and Ben’s crisp vinegary housemade pickled carrots and bright yellow pickled cauliflower. The crisp vinegary pickles and the creamy, judiciously flavored hummus were a revelation.

And the winner is …

Petra House, HUB and Ben’s Bottle Shop all offered great hummus plates, and they are all great in their own way. If I had to pick a favorite, I would pick the plate at Ben’s Bottle Shop. I am a pickle freak, and the housemade pickles at Ben’s are worthy of obsession. But I highly recommend the hummus plates at HUB and Petra House depending on your mood and your desire for locally brewed beer.

Rachel Pinsky can be reached by email at foodcouverusa@gmail.com and follow her via @foodcouverusa1 on Twitter and @foodcouverusa on Instagram.