Story and photo by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
How do you like your chai? Brewed with a blend of twelve different spices? How about your Chicken Shawarma? Marinated in a mixture of twenty-five different spices?
West Seattleites will get a chance to try Chef Rami Al-Jebori’s thoughtfully crafted “Middle East cuisine” when he expands his popular Mawadda Café to the Admiral District in September, in the former Museum Quality Framing storefront.
Blending Iranian, Greek, Turkish and Mediterranean flavors, Al-Jebori will feature items such as falafel, hummus, gyros and shish kebob. There will be a variety of vegetarian options and all the food will be made following the rules of Halal (Islamic dietary guidelines). Desserts will also be offered and he points out that his Baklava recipe uses pistachios instead of the usual walnuts.
Speaking to Rami Al-Jebori for even a short time, his deep love and understanding of the meals he creates is palpable. “I love spices. I read and study about spices and know what they do (for) health.” Finding the black pepper typically used in chai recipes too harsh, he’s created his own tea blend that eliminates the harshness of the pepper, but retains the flavor profile of chai. And that 25-spice Chicken Shawarma? He calls it, “A little piece of heaven you eat.” And after an eloquent description of his falafel preparation he adds a challenge: “If anyone can make falafel better than mine, I’ll give them $1,000.”
In order to provide his customers with the freshest, best-tasting food, all his dishes are made to order. “This is not fast food,” he says. “You don’t get a sandwich in two minutes, you will get your order in 15-30 minutes.” He laughingly adds that he used to have a sign in the current Mawadda Café in Rainier Valley that read: “If you are in a rush, you are in the wrong place.”
As Al-Jebori stands in the now-empty (but not for long) home of his future restaurant at 2352 California SW, he points out where the kitchen and seating areas will be. The kitchen will be a part of the main area, visible to the 20-25 diners. “I want people to see how I’m preparing their food,” he says. He’s particularly excited about being in that space in the Admiral District and having it across from the movie theater. He calls West Seattle a “great area” and looks forward to opening sometime in September.
The café will be open seven days a week from 11 am to 10 pm. Mawadda Café will offer takeout (but remember the longer preparation time) and will not serve alcohol.
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