Flavours of Morocco at the Bazaar

Fans of Arabic cuisine can now enjoy their favourite dishes in Zagreb, at the newly opened restaurant, Bazaar, which is located in the Zagreb Tower on Radnička Street. An exquisite selection and exotic menus prepared under the watchful eye of a Moroccan chef are tempting invitations.

Apart from the flavours of Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Mexican, Italian and other international cuisines, Zagreb's citizens and guests can now also enjoy the exquisite tastes of Arabic (or, more precisely, Moroccan) cuisine. The newly opened Bazaar restaurant is the first Arabic restaurant in Zagreb and it is located in the Zagreb Tower on Radnička Street.

The Bazaar was opened by a young Moroccan chef and enthusiast, Mohamed Oualibou. He gained his culinary experience in his homeland, and then life took him on an unusual journey to the Adriatic, and then on to Zagreb. He gained top class culinary skills managing some of Zagreb's best restaurants, but he has recently devoted himself completely to what he knows best – Arabic cuisine. He is a master of preparing traditional Arabic desserts, and he equally enjoys preparing Moroccan and Arabic dishes. He is a very communicative person and he will happily discuss the rich menu with any guest; he speaks fluent English, French, Spanish, Arabic, and the Berber language.

Arabic cuisine is considered an ideal blend of Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern and Indian flavours with specific aromas of cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, green pepper, curry, garlic, saffron, parsley, sesame... It also features numerous ingredients that the merchant fleets also brought to our area over the centuries; however, experiencing them in an exotic blend of Arabic cuisine is something completely different. Enjoy the new flavours of peaches, artichokes, bananas, cherries, coffee, dates, eggplant, figs, ginger, grapefruit, lemon, lime, oranges, rose hip, melon, rice, buckwheat, spinach, chickpeas… The menu offers a diverse selection including tabouleh, moutabel thnia, baba ghanoush, hummus, fattoush, warm Arabic and Moroccan salads, lentil soup, falafel, sambousek gebnah, sambousek lamb, couscous with chicken, lamb or vegetables, mixed grill, marinated lamb grill, shish taouk, beef or chicken tajine, sammak har, bazaar kebab, lmamar, lmamar with fruit, chabakiu, tmra, meze bazaar…

A pleasant atmosphere need not even be mentioned because, as the chef likes to point out, Arabic cuisine is not only excellent because of its flavour, but also because of the warm impression of its main ingredient – hospitability.

 

Published: 31.05.2011