Startup Invites NYC Foodies To Eat Off The Beaten Path

Food delivery startup Eat Offbeat brings fresh, authentic eats made by NYC refugees from all over the world to customers. The service, which provides work opportunities for refugees, was conceptualized and developed by siblings Manal and Wissam Kahi.

Disappointed by the hummus available to her in New York City in comparison to the fresh, homemade hummus from her native country of Lebanon, Manal began making her own. Manal's hummus became popular among her friends, and her brother, Wissam saw this as a business opportunity, according to a release.

The Kahi siblings recalled how some of the best hummus in Lebanon was made by Syrian expats, and the concept for Eat Offbeat was born. The startup employs refugees from around the world to cook family recipes and deliver them to NYC customers. Clients place orders online by 4 p.m. and food is delivered in reheatable containers in time for dinner. Meals cost about $20 and consist of an appetizer, entrée, and side.

"[We want you to] feel like you're in downtown Baghdad, for instance, or that you've been invited to a chef's own home," Manal says.