Comments on: Shakrieh, the stew that led me to Abu Fares http://www.antoniotahhan.com/2010/02/06/shakrieh-the-stew-that-led-me-to-abu-fares/ Mediterranean Food, American Kitchen Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:29:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Antonio Tahhan http://www.antoniotahhan.com/2010/02/06/shakrieh-the-stew-that-led-me-to-abu-fares/comment-page-1/#comment-11001 Antonio Tahhan Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:49:22 +0000 http://www.antoniotahhan.com/?p=1393#comment-11001 Hi KeyLimeCat: I think you're referring to <em>qashta</em>, or clotted cream, ice cream. It's a delicious and a popular treat in souk el hamidiyeh in Damascus, although there are places in Aleppo that make it, too. The main reason why that ice cream has a taffy-esque consistency is probably from the addition of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistacia_lentiscus" rel="nofollow">mastic gum</a>. This is a popular spice/ingredient that is used in Greece, Turkey, and across the Middle East (not only in sweet, but savory dishes as well). Also, the fact that the ice cream is made from clotted cream gives it a thicker body than regular ice cream would normally have. I'm living in Aleppo right now, but am only a couple hours away from Homs. I look forward to checking out that fast food place -- I might even write a blog post on it. Thanks for the recommendation! Hi KeyLimeCat: I think you’re referring to qashta, or clotted cream, ice cream. It’s a delicious and a popular treat in souk el hamidiyeh in Damascus, although there are places in Aleppo that make it, too. The main reason why that ice cream has a taffy-esque consistency is probably from the addition of mastic gum. This is a popular spice/ingredient that is used in Greece, Turkey, and across the Middle East (not only in sweet, but savory dishes as well). Also, the fact that the ice cream is made from clotted cream gives it a thicker body than regular ice cream would normally have.
I’m living in Aleppo right now, but am only a couple hours away from Homs. I look forward to checking out that fast food place — I might even write a blog post on it. Thanks for the recommendation!

]]> By: KeyLimeCat http://www.antoniotahhan.com/2010/02/06/shakrieh-the-stew-that-led-me-to-abu-fares/comment-page-1/#comment-10957 KeyLimeCat Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:44:53 +0000 http://www.antoniotahhan.com/?p=1393#comment-10957 Oh!! I almost forgot! If you're from Damascus, many people make the commute to Homs to taste "Brosted Kreiche" or just "Kreiche" for short. It's a fast food restaurant, that really consists of a stand up "ordering counter" (nowhere to sit). You might even sully its reputation by calling it "Syrian KFC".. except with Shish tawouk, shawermas, and other tasty dishes. The Shish tawouk is absolutely delicious. There are young men fanning skewers by the dozens over hot coals.. and people flooding the street corner for that luscious smell. Everything about it is mouth watering whether you're a fast food afficionado or not. The thick cut, soggy french fries, crisp pickles and salty pickled turnips, garlic sauce, and perfectly spiced chicken is not to be missed! Ask around and see if the word holds! ;) Oh!! I almost forgot! If you’re from Damascus, many people make the commute to Homs to taste “Brosted Kreiche” or just “Kreiche” for short.

It’s a fast food restaurant, that really consists of a stand up “ordering counter” (nowhere to sit). You might even sully its reputation by calling it “Syrian KFC”.. except with Shish tawouk, shawermas, and other tasty dishes.

The Shish tawouk is absolutely delicious. There are young men fanning skewers by the dozens over hot coals.. and people flooding the street corner for that luscious smell. Everything about it is mouth watering whether you’re a fast food afficionado or not. The thick cut, soggy french fries, crisp pickles and salty pickled turnips, garlic sauce, and perfectly spiced chicken is not to be missed! Ask around and see if the word holds! ;)

]]> By: KeyLimeCat http://www.antoniotahhan.com/2010/02/06/shakrieh-the-stew-that-led-me-to-abu-fares/comment-page-1/#comment-10956 KeyLimeCat Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:39:18 +0000 http://www.antoniotahhan.com/?p=1393#comment-10956 It's a restaurant! It's been a while but I'm pretty sure it's called "cafe el zuzu" or something. It looks over the ocean.. it serves the same things in your picture though.. like that batterfried fish, muhammara, some other red spicy dips, muttabel..I'm positive you went there already! :) --On a chef note-- I have a question! In many places you will be able to find this white ice cream with pistachios on it. It has a really different texture to North American creamy ice cream.. it's more like a taffy-esque consistency. (You can see that by how they try to scrape it off into the cone rather than balling it with a scoop.) I don't know, there's something chewy and stretchy but creamy about it. Do you have any idea how they make it? --can't be too hard, I've never seen an ice cream churn anywhere! ;) Hope you're having a lovely time!! It’s a restaurant! It’s been a while but I’m pretty sure it’s called “cafe el zuzu” or something. It looks over the ocean.. it serves the same things in your picture though.. like that batterfried fish, muhammara, some other red spicy dips, muttabel..I’m positive you went there already! :)

–On a chef note– I have a question! In many places you will be able to find this white ice cream with pistachios on it. It has a really different texture to North American creamy ice cream.. it’s more like a taffy-esque consistency. (You can see that by how they try to scrape it off into the cone rather than balling it with a scoop.) I don’t know, there’s something chewy and stretchy but creamy about it. Do you have any idea how they make it? –can’t be too hard, I’ve never seen an ice cream churn anywhere! ;)

Hope you’re having a lovely time!!

]]> By: Antonio Tahhan http://www.antoniotahhan.com/2010/02/06/shakrieh-the-stew-that-led-me-to-abu-fares/comment-page-1/#comment-10933 Antonio Tahhan Sun, 06 Feb 2011 00:15:25 +0000 http://www.antoniotahhan.com/?p=1393#comment-10933 Ahlan w sahlan KeyLimeCat, glad I could be of help :) Unfortunately we didn't have much time to explore Syria's coast. We spent half the day in Latakia and the other half in Tartous. Abu Fares took us to a quaint restaurant in the mountains of Tartous, but I cannot recall the name of it. That's where we had the wonderful fish and the the spread of mezze. I'm in Syria now and would like to make visit Tartous at some point again--I will ask around for this place called "Zuzu." Is it a restaurant or a fast food place? Ahlan w sahlan KeyLimeCat, glad I could be of help :) Unfortunately we didn’t have much time to explore Syria’s coast. We spent half the day in Latakia and the other half in Tartous. Abu Fares took us to a quaint restaurant in the mountains of Tartous, but I cannot recall the name of it. That’s where we had the wonderful fish and the the spread of mezze. I’m in Syria now and would like to make visit Tartous at some point again–I will ask around for this place called “Zuzu.” Is it a restaurant or a fast food place?

]]> By: KeyLimeCat http://www.antoniotahhan.com/2010/02/06/shakrieh-the-stew-that-led-me-to-abu-fares/comment-page-1/#comment-10932 KeyLimeCat Sat, 05 Feb 2011 19:30:23 +0000 http://www.antoniotahhan.com/?p=1393#comment-10932 **EDIT: I meant Tartous.. sorry. I do know what I'm talking about. **EDIT: I meant Tartous.. sorry. I do know what I’m talking about.

]]>