Meze is a selection of small dishes served at the beginning of a multi-course meal in Turkey and the Levant. The word comes from the Persian 'maza,' meaning 'to taste' or 'relish.' Meze is as much about the social interaction as it is about the food. It is traditionally served with Rakı, an anise-flavored spirit. A standard meze spread includes cold items like 'Hummus,' 'Baba Ghanoush' (smoked eggplant dip), and 'Ezme' (spicy tomato salad), followed by warm items like 'Börek' (savory pastries). The goal of a meze spread is to provide a balance of all flavor profiles—salty, sweet, sour, and bitter—to stimulate the palate for the main course.