WHAT THE HECK IS ROSEWATER? - AN INSIDER'S SOOP

March 13, 2014

Rosewater

What is it?

A by product of making rose oil for perfumes, rose water has been used for centuries in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, where it flavors drinks like hot milk or tea, desserts like Turkish delight, baklava, and rice pudding, and even adds a subtle complexity to savory foods. It lends its delicate, floral flavor. Because it is very potent, add it judiciously, by the eighth of a teaspoon, so that it doesn’t overpower other flavors.

How to choose:

You can find rose water at Middle Eastern or health-food stores. Since it’s also used for cosmetic purposes, look for a label that says 100% pure rose water, with no other additives to be sure you’re getting a food-grade product.

How to store:

It will keep indefinitely in the pantry.

MOUTH WATERING KEBABS - AFGHAN RESTAURANT SAN FRANCISCO

March 11, 2014

Your comments are welcome!

By Humaira

I no longer have to send friends to Fremont for an authentic chapli kebab and bolani meal. De Afghanan Kebob House, which has been in Fremont's Little Kabul district for over 20 years, has opened it's doors in San Francisco's Tenderloin district.

The restaurant is run by two nephews of the original kebab master, Omar Aziz. They have created an extensive menu of mouth watering dishes and they are committed to staying in San Francisco's lucrative restaurant market where there is little competition for well priced, delicious, Afghan street food.

The restaurant is small with around 22 seats. I found the ambiance sterile, the art synthetic but the great food is what won me over.

I ordered the main staples of any good Afghan restaurant; bolani kachaloo, chicken kebab and Afghan ice cream. All three items along with the complimentary shor nakhod (Afghan spicy potato salad) were wonderful.

For a small restaurant and single wait person, the service was timely and efficient. I left very satisfied with a to go order of bolani in hand for next day's lunch.

De Afghanan has two locations in Fremont, one in Livermore and another in Berkeley.

De Afghanan Kabob House, San Francisco

1035 Geary Street (between Polk and Van Ness

Phone number - (510) 549-3781

Your comments are welcome!

"AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED" - A BOOK CLUB MENU

March 6, 2014

Winner of prestigious CBC Bookie Award

Your comments are welcome!

By Humaira

Shortly after my daugther Aria was born, fourteen years ago, I started a book club to create an incentive to read someting beside mind numbing picture books. The women I recruited were moms I met at a mommy-baby gathering. Every month we bundled up our bundles of joy, and met at someone's home to discuss the book.

Once the babies started crawling, and walking, we left them with Dad and met at restaurants for a coveted night of adult conversation and relaxed dining. Unfotunately five years ago the book club dissolved when driving carpools trumped reading.

Now, I live vicariously through friends who are still part of a book club or, women who write asking about Afghan dishes they can make for their discussion of Khaled Hosseini's books.

I love themed gatherings and nothing can be more fun than turning a book discussion into a cultural experience. So I decided to created a menu which will transport you into the world of Abdullah, Pari, Nila and all the wonderful characters in Khaled's most recent book, "And The Mountains Echoed."

When "And The Mountains Echoed" was first released, Khaled shared with readers of this blog his favorite foods.

Khaled's family is from Herat, a province in Western Afghanistan that has delicious regional dishes which I've yet to try: Qolor toroosh, Ishkana, Kichiri gosht landi, and Pati mash.

To this day Jeja, my mom, talks about the delicious foods Khaled's mom used to make when our families lived near each other in the Bay Area during the 80's. Jeja is not one to give fellow cooks undeserved recognition.

Although this menu does not have recipes from Herat, I have chosen traditonal dishes that are complementary, travel well and are perfect for pot lucks. I hope you will experience the wonders of Afghanistan through Khaled's beautiful words and my recipes.

Afghan women picnicing Photo: Lynsey Addario