CAIRO WEST MAGAZINE RESTAURANT REVIEW
It ’ s all about the ingredients . And how you combine them . Sister outlet of the already popular Tamara restaurant in City Stars , the recently opened branch in Tivoli Dome , Sheikh Zayed gets it spot on . Although it has obviously benefited from the excellent reputation garnered by the Cairo flagship branch in City Stars , launched last year by four savvy young entrepreneurs , the steady stream of diners flowing into this gem of a place means it has already made its mark with the locals .
Cairo West Magazine was not going to be left out ; we like to know where the best eats in the area are , so off we went . The restaurant has prime positioning on the first floor of this lovely new mall , wrapping itself around the strikingly landscaped courtyard . The floor-to-ceiling windows all around give a perfect view of the numerous water features below as well , you get a great indoors- outdoors feel , which suits the fresh , contemporary and eclectic decor . The restaurant is arranged in a flow of separate rooms with varying levels , making the dining experience more intimate than you would expect of a restaurant that can easily cater to 100 patrons at once . Traditional elements abound , mashrabeya screens and hand blown glass lanterns are there , but with a light and colourful twist that sets off the funky cushions scattered along the banquettes lining the walls . And you certainly cannot miss the splashes of the signature fuchsia throughout , very on trend !
It came as no surprise to discover that the menu had been put together just as cleverly . Sipping our jallab , that sweet date and rose water based nectar crammed with sultanas and roasted pine nuts , we browsed through a treasure trove of a menu , before placing the choice in the hands of our capable waiter . A brilliant decision ! Delivering homage to the very best of traditional Lebanese cuisine , presented with care and obvious attention to detail , Tamara blew us away with an assortment of dishes that kept us dipping and dunking .
Created for sharing , and an accompaniment for sociable conversation , the creamy , light hummus and eggplant muttabal disappeared quickly , it must have been the delicious homemade bread that helped . A plate of stuffed vine leaves and stuffed seasonal vegetables soon followed , delivering citrusy perfection . Remarkably seasoned kibbeh kept us nibbling while we speculated on what treats were still in store , a bit like a magical mystery tour ...
Well worth the wait , a heap of dainty mini- shawerma , crammed with tasty fillings of veal liver , beef , chicken and chicken liver proved to be irresistible , so when a huge platter of mixed grilled meats and chicken suddenly appeared before us we found ourselves truly challenged . But how can you say no to such succulent and wonderfully seasoned delights ? We couldn ’ t . And then there was a house speciality , liver cooked with lemon , chilli and celery . Any sour notes to mar the experience you ask ? For me it was only the pickled cabbage , just too salty and loaded with chilli . An acquired taste I am sure , its Asian equivalent Korean kimchi never won me over either .
Labneh Tamtam : Ingredients : ( Recipe makes 6 servings )
5 liters of milk 50 grams of salt
Directions :
1 . Blend the milk and salt and stir them in a cloth bag . 2 . Preserve the mix in the bag for a day 3 . Roll the mix into small balls and make a rounded indentation in the center of each ball 4 . Fill each indentation with some green thyme
Garnish the plate with some cherry tomatoes , black olives and olive oil .
Chicken Liver with Pomegranate Dip : Ingredients :
20 grams of chicken liver ( make sure you wash it ) 3 spoons of pomegranate dip 2 grams white flour 1 bay leaf ½ chili pepper ¼ green chili pepper
Directions :
1 . Fry the chicken liver over high heat 2 . Add ½ chili pepper , 1 bay leaf and ¼ green chili pepper 3 . Add salt and pepper 4 . Mix 3 spoons of pomegranate dip and 2 grams of white flour 5 . Pour the sauce mix
To round off the evening we could have enjoyed a nicotine-free shisha , an obviously popular item , but opted for a decadent dessert and a glass of mint tea instead . The creamy-cheesiness of outhmaliya bathed in fragrantly sweet rose water syrup defies description , but that in itself has guaranteed a return visit to Tamara in the very near future .
Tamara Lebanese Bistro Open daily from 12.00 to 24.00 hrs . Address : Tivoli Dome , Sheikh Zayed , 6th October City Tel : 012 000 06065 Facebook : facebook . com / TamaraBistro Twitter : @ TamaraBistro
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