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Afghan Spice Banquet

Posted by: Ela Carte | 14 February, 2011 - 1:45 PM
Afghani

AFGHAN SPICE BANQUET - Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 13th March 2011
www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au

Incorporating Afghan Pamir Restaurant and Salang Restaurant   www.worldfood.net.au 

If you’re like me, you get excited about the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival each and every year, then get overwhelmed and finally struggle to get round to actually booking anything, so I figured it’s time for a reminder! The festival starts on the 4th of March and once again the number and varitety of events is staggering.

Obviously it’s hard to review one at the same time as giving listeners the chance to grab tickets and enjoy the event themselves, so I decided to pick one of the more unique sounding functions and visit the people who’ll be making the food on offer.

Just a few weeks back we had some calls on suburbs that were breaking their stereotypes, and a number of people called in to explain that Dandenong is currently undergoing a pretty amazing transformation. What isn’t changing, though, is the proliferation of international cuisine, including some fantastic Afghan bakeries and restaurants. As part of the Festival, and in order to highlight the great quality Afghan food in the area, the Dandenong Market is hosting an Afghan Spice Banquet, and we’re not just talking enjoyment of the edible variety, there’ll be dancers, henna painting, music, and more. The menu looks divine, but I thought I better make sure it’ll be as good as it sounds, so it was off to local restaurants Pamir and Salang to taste-test.

Pamir is run by possibly the friendliest restaurateur in the south east – Rahimi Baryali. It’s colourful and a little chaotic, the décor alone providing a feast for the senses. For those who haven’t tried Afghani food, it’s really a mix of the best of Lebanese, Middle Eastern, and Indian foods. Rahimi blew us away with his perfectly marinated, beautifully smoky and tender chicken kebabs; an unexpectedly fresh tomato chicken curry with a gorgeous blend of spices and minced ginger; and a great vegetarian dish with soft eggplant, potato slices, tomato and yoghurt sauce. At the banquet you’ll be able to try his spicy dips, achar pickle and charcoal cooked chicken.

Where Pamir is established and well worn in to its surrounds, Salang is the new endeavour for the owners of the ever-popular Tasty Afghan just a few doors down on Lonsdale Street. Opened just before Christmas, this one’s a little more sedate and stylish, with timber tables and white tiled floors, but the food’s just as impressive. What I love about these places is their absolute commitment to making their meals from scratch, the garlic bread we devoured was baked on our arrival, dumpling wrappers were rolled and filled moments before we ate them. And, oh, those dumplings! I didn’t even know they were an Afghan specialty, and now I will go back again and again. It’s an interesting combination of flavours, we tried the vegetarian Ashak which will thankfully be on the menu at the banquet. Soft steamed dumplings filled with garlic chives and coriander, served topped with yoghurt sauce, a tomato/capsicum sauce and braised kidney beans and chickpeas. I was told by someone it’s difficult to explain how these taste and just how good they are, and it’s true. You’ll just have to believe me that they’re divine. Interestingly, after many attempts to make them here in Australia, owner Saleem  Bahrami decided there was nothing for it but to import the garlic chive seeds from Afghanistan for a truly authentic taste, something he still does today. Saleem’s fresh cooked bread was terribly moreish, and I say terribly because it’s quite the filler you can do without when you have a spread of rice, salad, lamb and chicken kebab, zinging spiced yogurt and a fantastic chilli relish.

If you haven’t tried Afghan food before, the Banquet should be a unique and entertaining way to start, but if you can’t make it I highly recommend a trip to Dandenong. It really is hard not to be blown away by the generosity, freshness, bold flavours, and quality produce that grace the menus of these two establishments. Or, alternatively, get yourself along to one of the great Food Tours the local council runs, blending some great background info with fantastic tastes of both Afghan and Indian cuisine.

AUDIO: Ela Carte discusses the litte known wonders of Afghani Cuisine

Blog comments Your Say

  • I'm a Dandenong convert and afghan food fanatic. Salang is just as incredible as the old-faithful Tasty Afghan. They have such a passion for the food of their homeland. I did the Afghan Tour at last year's Food & Wine Festival and can't wait for the Spice Banquet this year.
    PS Parking at Dandenong Market is 20c/hour - I kid you not.

    foodiegroupy Tuesday 22 February, 2011 - 9:31 AM

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