Yemenite Food

When we think about Arab cuisine, most people have in mind dishes that come from Mediterranean countries, dishes like kebabs, Kebbeh, Falafel, Hummus and the famous Pita Bread.

The truth is that the Arab cuisine is composed of many regional cuisines, very different one from the others and they usually are many centuries old.

In Toronto, thanks to some posts from a friend, I had the opportunity to taste the food from a place that is not well known in our countries. This place is Yemen, a country located in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, very far from the Mediterranean sea. The restaurant I visited: Hadhramaut Restaurant.

Hadhramaut Restaurant (  مطعم حضرموت  ) is a popular place to taste the Yemenite food. You can find more on their website. The place is very small but the food is excellent, service is outstanding and prices are not high. They suggest that Mandy is like their signature dish.

During my first visit, I had a Lamb Mandy ( لحم مندي ). Mandy is a traditional dish that consists of Lamb, rice and a blend of spices. It is cooked in an underground oven. The juices of the lamb and spices are used to cook the basmati rice. As a result of hours cooking, the lamb is so tender that the meat can be easily pulled from the bones. I must add that the lamb leg was wrapped in Aluminum foil. Over the rice, you can see pieces of caramelized onion and raisins. 

In a second visit, I had Lamb Haneeth ( حنيذ لحم ). [As I note, bear in mind that the Arabic word “Lahm” “  لحم” means “Meat”]. This dish has also rice and spices. But the main difference with Mandy dishes is that the Haneeth lamb is cooked under airtight pressure.  

In my most recent visit, I tasted chicken Maqluba (  مقلوبة دجاج ). This dish is actually Palestinian, something I learned after my visit. The term “Maqluba” “مقلوبة  “ means “upside down, inverted”. The chicken is cooked with rice and fried vegetables in a pot which is flipped upside down when served.  In this case, they used potatoes with the chicken and rice.

And here is a cup of coffee to finish my visit. Turkish coffee. 

Multiculturalism in the Teahouse!

Recently, while researching about possible places where I can taste Russian dishes in Toronto, my interest was caught by a place that just its name, looked interesting for me. I am talking about the restaurant Chaihana. 

The word Chaihana in many languages from Central Asia has the same meaning: House of Tea / Teahouse. A place to have some social interaction while Tea and light dishes are served. (In Persian: چای خانه.[Chay Khaneh]; in Turkish: Çayhane;  in Uzbek: Choyxona; in Azeri: Çayxana; in Tajik: Чойхона; and in Russian: Чайхана;  

The first thing that impressed me was its decoration. You can see some pictures on their website. This place advertises as a restaurant that specializes in Tajik and Uzbek food. The truth is that you can find there a great selection of dishes from different parts of what was once the Soviet Union, from Russia to Kazakhstan, and from Georgia to Ukraine.

My First visit started with a Borsch (Борщ), a Ukrainian style sour soup where its main ingredient is the beetroot. This dish is in general very popular in Eastern Europe and it might have Cabbage, carrots, potatoes, onions, and a tablespoon of sour cream is added. Meat can be added but is optional. This is one of the dishes that I used to eat frequently in my home since my early childhood.

The main dish was a traditional sausage-like food from Kazakhstan but very popular also in neighboring countries: Qazı or Kazy. It is made mainly with Horse meat, from the ribs. The dish had a side of salad and Kasha (Каша), a popular dish in Eastern Europe, similar to porridge, made with buckwheat.

To take out, I asked for a Khachapuri, a cheese filled bread, traditional in Georgia where it is its national dish.

My next visit started with another soup. This time I had Kharcho (Харчо), a Georgian lamb soup, that has walnuts and rice and served with finely chopped coriander. I will try to prepare this same dish in my home soon.

Then I had Chicken Tabaka, a traditional Georgian food. It’s a traditional pan-fried chicken with herbs. For better effect, the chicken is first flattened. It is common to use a pan with a heavy cover to fry the chicken under pressure.   

Meet up in The Station Café & Kitchen

During the last Sundays, I have been meeting with the Esperanto Club in a very interesting place for gathering and eating: The Station Café & Kitchen. More information can be seen on their website. 

This place that opened recently is minutes walk from Ossington station. The food is simple and made with fresh ingredients. There are interesting options for Vegans and people who want to eat a salad. But meat lovers will not be disappointed with the options of burgers, sandwiches and other dishes. But this place is also ideal to go and have a cup of good coffee or chocolate, or a local beer. Wine is also available.

Another particularity of this place is that is promoting itself as a place for events, and meetups are welcome. These are some reasons for our Esperanto club to choose this place to have our conversation meeting with beginners. 

Here is a selection of the dishes that I had during my visits: 

Below is the Station cheeseburger, with a side of fresh salad. A simple well-cooked burger with a house-made sauce.  

The Teriyaki Bowl is one of the most complete dishes they have. It has soy chicken with a homemade teriyaki sauce, fresh vegetables, and crushed cashews. They are served over white rice. A very healthy option for a Sunday lunch. No  need to cook this day (Indeed, due to an unexpected situation, this dish saved my day)   

And here we have another healthy and interesting option: Cajun Fish Tacos. A tasty taco for the occasion.  

Esperanto Toronto bonvenas al ĉiuj kiuj deziras partopreni en niaj kunvenoj kaj lerni Esperanton. Ĝis la venonta dimanĉo!