sharazade, one more time this week, cannot get enough of that lamb leg ...

i looked up at the sign over the door this visit and it says sharazade, not sherazade, i apologize for the misspellings before. funny, after eating there for 16 years, i finally learned how they spell it. the place has been there for 26 years, hmmmmmmmmmmmm, must be an ok restaurant, nah?

this visit i took the pictures before i ate the lamb. i also had some more of their great egyptian feta cheese with olive oil, and also the babaganoush.

just as i arrived a group of 18 came in. no reservation and half of them were children in strollers. they were driving the staff nuts with their demands. it was all taken in stride, even by the customers that were politely asked to give up their tables and relocate so that a table for 18 could be morphed into place.

i have spent 30 years working in restaurants and it never amazes me how some folks just do not think it sensible, in their best interests, polite or proper to call ahead for a reservation, especially for a table of 18, and, upon arrival, they think that moses should be parting the sea for them. lucky for these folks the people at sharazade are true restaurateurs who never show their disdain or mention there dismay at the utter lack or sensibility and etiquette.

a closer shot of this perfectly toasted lamb leg.

very busy day today too, look at how full the grill is.

i always finish my meal with one of these lighter-than-air custards
with ground almonds and coconut, and a not-to-sweet turkish coffee.



i have had to forgo my coffee of late
because they are currently not serving hot beverages after 6:00 pm
in accordance with islamic belief.

another 15 days and i can get my fix.
they offered to make me one,
but i said that although it was appreciated,
no need to break with custom.
i got big face and big smiles of appreciation for that decision.
maybe it was a test.

the owner approached me while i was taking the grill pic and he told me
his wife had mentioned that i wanted a turkish coffee pot so i could make turkish coffee at home.
he promised to pick one up in dubai on his next trip through.
his wife then said she will also get me a bag or two of beans.
how awesome is that?

someone once told me the pots are shaped as they are
so when there is no wood to be found in the dessert
you can simply draw the hot sand up around the sides of the pot,
and the sun will boil it for you.
i do not know if that is true, but its a nifty little anecdote any ways.