My husband is one of the rare Saudi men who enjoys cooking from time to time. He has that unique talent of being able to take whatever he may find in the refrigerator and/or pantry and turn it into a tasty meal. I’ve often told him that whenever he retires he should open a restaurant somewhere. This got us to talking one night about a suitable name….
“Desert Boyz BBQ” (imagine a traditional looking beduion tent with a camel or two tethered outside. One enters and smells the traditional oud. Meals are served while seated on cushions on the floor. No utensils are required or given; one eats with their hand or while using typical bread as a spoon. There is no menu of choices but a set meal showcasing the best of Arab cuisine)
“Sharwma Shack” (this would be bedu looking shack like place near a boardwalk specializing in sharwma and falafel. Popular and traditional arab songs would be blasted from a loudspeaker. Food would be served hot and wrapped in paper napkins.)
“Hungry Man’s Kupsa” (a “diner like” restaurant with the most traditional of home cooked arab/Saudi meals with a special emphasis on kupsa. More than 30 varieties of kupsa would be on the menu along with other favorites like garcon, seleek, jeerish and more!)
I think they all sound good and appealing. So tell me what you think? Which ones conjures up the most appetizing image of traditional Arab food to you? Which one makes your mouth water and finish this post wishing you could immediately bite into some tasty arab food?
Filed under: Saudi Arabia
I like ” Desert Boyz BBQ “…
I think we need something like that in Saudi.. They have something similar like that in UAE just outside of Dubai.. which I haven’t been able to try yet in Dubai.. but I think it would be a nice experience.. In Jeddah near Dahban they have open and closed small private areas for each family and they serve fresh either fried or grilled Red Sea popular Fish and its low key too and very enjoyable even though sometimes you have lots of flies flying around if its an open area..
I’m glad to hear your view that you think this would work in Saudi. My spouse and I thought there might be a market in the US since there are so few places “Saudi oriented.”
I may have gone to the place you mentioned outside of Dubai. I remember some years back going to a place which focused on traditional food in a traditional atmosphere. I really enjoyed it; there was even a falcon which one could hold and have their picture taken!
OKAY….So starting the tally, that’s one vote for Desert Boyz BBQ!
I love Arab food. Maybe I havent read enough about your hubby, but where in Saudi does he come from? Najd? Hijaz? See, that makes a huge difference in what kind of food he would like and what he is used to.
My wife’s family is Hijazi, which means not only do they have the standard Arabic cuisine, but they also have a lot of Jawa (Indonesian/Asian) influence. I love things like “Din-Din” and a dish they cook that is generically called “Jawi” which is meat and vegetables in a sauce made with all sorts of things including coconut milk.
As to starting a restaurant here in the USA, my wife and one of her sisters have this all planned out, we just need the money to do it. There is no good sit down Saudi/Khaliji restaurant here in the Metro DC area. We know if we set one up in the Metro DC area we would get all sorts of Khaliji and Arab diplomats as well as the general Arab and American public looking for something different.
We thought about calling it al-Jazeera, al-Hijaz, or maye Al Khalij. We would have a seperate dining area, and then a coffee/sisha room for relaxing. As a person interested in buildings, I alread have designs in my head for the layout of the building itself.
Before I did the Electrical Engineering thing I cooked at restaurants all over the West coast so I have some experience in the business. It is a dream of ours, and unless we can get some investors, it will stay that way. But, it is nice to dream.
Anyway, as a HUGE fan of shawarma, I would have to go for anything that served a lot of them. I think for a name you’d have to change it depending on whether or not it was in the USA or Saudi. Somethings would work in Saudi that wouldnt work in the USA.
I think you are right in that it would work in the USA, especially here in the DC area where there is such a huge Saudi/Arab population, but the only food establishments out there are almost completely of the Lebanese/Palestinian variety.
A fine dining Saudi/Khaliji place in DC would make a mint! If you need help with the menu we already have a bunch of it thought out! lol!
But Abu Sinan…you didn’t give me your vote!
You are so right in regards to selections in the WDC area for that is where we were prior to arrival in the Kingdom. There are Lebanese/Moroccan in Alexandria which have more of a “Saudi” or arab flair as well as so many Pakistani/Indian restaurants.
I think that is wonderful that you, your wife and her sisters wish to pursue such an endeavor. Have you tried contacting the US-Saudi Friendship Society or the US-Saudi business council for investing leads and opportunites? If you have a solid business plan prepared someone just might take notice and action!
Although my husband’s tribe is from elsewhere, he was born and raised in Hijaz.
In regards to your name for a restaurant, Al Jazeera would spark interest and get notice. I’m not sure if most Americans would understand the nuances of al-Hijaz or Al Khalij.
One thing I can say, there is such a variety of differing kinds of restaurants in Saudi…even Mexican and Thai! For some reason I did not expect to find good authentic Mexican or TexMex here but I did…TexMex in Riyadh and it is outstanding.
Now don’t forget to give me your vote!
Hi Carol. I like the name Dessert Boyz BBQ. I think the name will appeal to the younger generation, of which is the majority here, and the atmosphere will appeal to the expats who want the traditional Saudi Bedu experience. Wanted to say that i just love your blogg, and have learned a great deal from it. Thanks!
Hi Karimah!
Hmm…I had not thought so much about the name appeal but now that you’ve mentioned it, I do agree with you. I’ll reveal a secret…Desert Boyz came up as my pet name for my husband is “Desert Boy.” and of course, the name with which he christened me so many years ago was “American Bedu.”
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Oh, Abu Sinan, please do open such a restaurant in DC. We lived in Riyadh for much of the 1990s and I miss our regular Friday shawarmas (complete with French fries!).
As for your plans, Carol — I vote for a Shawarma Shack on the boardwalk in Rehoboth. Maybe you could work a deal with the folks at Thrasher’s to use their fries…
(And what Lebanese/Moroccan restaurants do you like in Alexandria? — we live just south of Old Town.)
I too remember being surprised by the quality and variety of restaurants in Riyadh. One of the best Thai meals I ever ate was at a truck stop, of all places, way out the Khurais Road, past the Dywidag and Philips Ericsson compounds. We also enjoyed great Chinese meals at a restaurant known among expats as Mr. Cho’s, and there was a terrific Turkish restaurant on Thalateen Street. Fun times.
Hi Umm Tom and welcome to my blog. I appreciate your post and have chalked up your vote for Shawarma Shack!
It’s been a while since I have been in the WDC area but I do remember a lovely Moroccan restaurant in the heart of Old Town. Reservations were a must and if you’ve experienced a traditional Moroccan meal, be sure and allocate 5-6 hours for the evening event.
Many Saudis live in Alexandria not far off from route 50 so simply driving in that area you will see a wide number of Lebanese and Moroccan restaurants, many which also offer shisha.
It sounds like you are a former expat of Riyadh and I’d love to hear more about your experiences and recommendations…please, don’t be shy here!
I think the Morrocan place in Alexandria is called “Casablanca”. My wife and I went a few years back and were not impressed in the slightest. Maybe we just got there on an off day.
There is all sorts of Arab type places here in the Metro DC area, but no real fine dining establishments. The closest would be “Moma Aisha’s” in DC that gets a lot of diplomatic usage, but I dont care for it either. A common refrain I hear from people who have been there is that the food is okay, but the portion sizes are small and they leave hungry. Imagine that, leaving hungry from a Middle Eastern place? Unheard of!
Umm Tom,
The closest thing to a real Saudi shawarma can be found at a place in Vienna called “An-Nakheel” (The Palms). It is owned by a very friendly Lebanese Christian family. You’ll often see the father or the daughter managing the till.
The shawarma are made Saudi style, complete with the french fries inside. I will put a link to them below. This is where we go for shawarma, and for what it is worth, Prince Bandar and many other Saudi diplomats got their halal meat with them for decades. The people who work there are very friendly, they remember my wife and I every time we go.
Carol,
No, we didnt think about contacting the resources you mentioned. I think maybe I ought to take some free time, when I get it, and put together something in writing and approach the groups you mentioned, thanks for the ideas.
http://www.alnakheel-cafe.com/
Carol,
I almost forgot “Desert Boyz BBQ” would be nice. Now you just have to draw up a menu. Anything exotic for us Westerners? I have never had camel and I heard it is eaten there………
Abu Sinan,
Thanks for mentioning Al Nakheel…how could I have forgotten to mention that when we used them many times when we catered functions at our home! (big duh) Yes; it is one of the best and also so reasonable too.
It is true that camel meat is sold in the markets here but I must say as an animal activist and one who considers camels more of a pet, I absolutely refuse to try it!
But in regards to traditional menus, while only the set menu would be available of course the selections would rotate night to night. For the most traditional, one would “bake” the lamb with chicken in the ground in sand and of course served with Saudi rice. A selection of kupsa’s would make for another evening. Of course there would also be bbq night with traditional and tasty kabobs; garzon night; jeerish night; in the winter one would also feature saleeq. I hope this has helped whet you appetite and is only the tip of the iceburg of the delicious Saudi foods!
And thanks for your vote!
I am not familiar with a lot of the foods you mentioned. I guess it is the regional thing? Or maybe my mother in law’s Jawa roots?
But I certainly known saleeq. The babies love it! Same with Melokhia (sp?) but that is more of an Egyptian/Levant dish.
Shokran, shokran for the shawarma place in Vienna. Will try it this weekend.
I loved my years in Riyadh (1992-98, with 15 months out in the middle in India and the UK). Got to know a number of Saudis through my work as an editor on a USG/Saudi Ministry of Health project training Saudi physicians, both male and female, in disease control and surveillance. Much more interesting than what many expat wives were doing (sitting around the compound pool complaining, then spending money at the gold souk).
I do remember camel meat being sold in the grocery stores — particularly in a large grocery on, I think, Tahlia Street, off Olaya Road, not far from Al-Akariyah mall/Jarir Bookstore. Never got brave enough to try it, though.
My “name,” Umm Tom, comes from what I was called by an Arab family, since I have a son named Tom. Seems appropriate here.
Abu Sinan: I am surprised to hear you are not familar with the foods mentioned. Have you asked your wife or mother-in-law about these dishes? I have found that any traditional function I go to whether Riyadh, Jeddah, Mekkah, Damman will have these dishes as they are said to be representative of Saudi cuisine.
I think you might be referring to Makloobah? And this is also another delicious dish. Fortunately one can easily obtain cookbooks here which showcase Saudi cuisine and Saudi TV channel 2 carries a cooking show as well.
Umm Tom: Oh you must try Al Nakheel in Vienna. It is on 123 heading towards Vienna and before MacGruders in a little strip mall on the left side of the road.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds like we have some commonalities as I also had a diplomatic posting in India and loved it there as well! And I understand where you are coming from as there are many “compound wives” in the Kingdom.
I think that is wonderful that an Arab family christened you Umm Tom and I agree, it is very appropriate here.
Carol,
Maybe I have eaten those items, but they are not mainstays in what the females in the family cook, or else they are called something else.
I know Makloobah, meloukhia is something different. I have put a few links below. Ask the hubby about it, I am sure he knows it.
http://www.paula-wolfert.com/recipes/chick_molokhia.html
http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/equivalents_substitutions.asp?index=M&tid=2287
http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/Hort/Fmrs/Asian_veg/melouk.htm
Posted a comment about meloukhia but it disappeared. It did have some links. Spam filter? Any way to retrieve?
I’ll see if there is anything in the spam filter.
*hand up* Another vote for “Desert Boyz BBQ”!
I think I ate at the restaurant you (and Lilliy) mean in Dubai. Its name is something like “Marhabani” (if it’s the same one I went to). I have been so many times. The prawn kabsa is excellent. I loved the private Arabian tents however I feel they could do with some smaller-sized ones for couples.
Abu Sinan, don’t open that kind of restaurant there – come and open it over here in Australia so I can go, LOL!
Heh heh, “din din” means “dinner” in babytalk in my country so I get this picture of mushed up potatos, carrots and peas in a Sesame Street bowl.
Looks like Desert Boyz is taking a lead here thus far. And oh yes, shrimp kupsa made with the large prawns fresh from the Red Sea is incredible! My sister-in-law lives in Damman and we always look forward to her kupsa when we visit her.
Now I have an off-topic query but since you are from Australia Aliyah, my husband learned to say “shoesless” instead of barefoot from his time in Australia. Is that a typical phrase there?
I have always wanted to go to Australia. We have some Aussie friends when we lived in England.
“Din Din” is an Indonesian dish. It is marinated beef, pounded very very thin, then fried with potato sticks and served with rice. It is a very time consuming thing to make, to pound all of the little strips of beef very thing, but it is SO good.
I’ve also enjoyed Indonesian ‘din din’ and it is quite delicious!!
Speaking from the UK, your concept of authentic cuisine is becoming a rarity here.
Famous chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Rick Stein and Jamie Oliver unanimously advocate authenticity.
Capturing the atmosphere of a nation would be a wow factor! Especially with tents, cushions and no cutlery, just sounds yummy!
Oh yes…Hell’s Kitchen is broadcase here … makes one wonder what someone like Gordon Ramsay would say about the suggestions?
LOL @ “shoe-less”! No, that is not a phrase we use here; we say “barefoot” as in “she was left barefoot and pregnant by her ne’er-do-well husband”. Does he say “fingers” instead of “toes” – many native Arab speakers call both fingers and toes, fingers.
Hmm, I will have to ask my local Indonesian restaurant, “IndoTucka” (“tucka” a colloquialism for “food”) for this dish. It sounds yummy and tender – with all that pounding.
Interesting….but no, he does know the distinction between fingers and toes. Aren’t differing languages and ways of expressing oneself so much fun!!
[...] shared in preparing most of our meals but oftentimes would take turns cooking. I learned that Abdullah liked to experiment when cooking Saudi dishes such as kubsa and will never forget the time he [...]