A few weeks ago, I wrote approximately how surprised I turned into to find “non-airport-fashion” food at Everett’s Paine Field — in brief, some entrees that were restaurant-great excellent. Now, the end of my cap is going to every other marvel — a restaurant in a shopping mall that’s properly worth a go-to. You can spot Kismet Turkish Cafe & Bakery as you leave Macy’s to go into the mall at Alderwood. Just appearance up, stroll directly in advance and be on the lookout for the cheery pink seats. The subsequent issue you might see is the bright face of Janette Burk, who makes human beings sense right at home with delicacies you may no longer be familiar with.
Turkish food is pretty similar to Greek cuisine but with its very own twists. So she’s geared up to make hints, primarily based on your starvation and preferences. “Would you like to try the muhammara?” she requested as I studied the menu. She gave me a sample of the dish, which has the consistency — however now not the taste — of hummus. Intrigued, I quickly agreed to the plate ($7.69) of highly spiced pepper dip, consisting of pita bread, cucumber, olives, and tomatoes. I certainly desired to strive the Turkish coffee; a focused brew served in small cups. But it was a warm day, I had been crawling in heavy site visitors, and I desired something cool. So I opted for mineral water with just a splash of flavoring.
I become delighted with the muhammara, made from roasted red peppers with walnuts, pomegranates, onions, and cayenne pepper. If you are very cautious approximately spiciness — someone who asks for a “0” on the 1-5 scale while you visit an eating place that serves highly spiced meals — know that it has a kick. The serving sizes are mild. If you’re searching for a complete meal, you may need to add different offerings or choose dessert. But if the serving sizes are soft, the charges are extraordinarily reasonable. One of the cafe’s specialties is the omelet alaturka, with eggs, roasted greens, spices, and provolone cheese ($7.Sixty nine). It’s an item historically served all day in Turkey.
There is kofta kabab ($9.95) for the beef eaters, four beef meatballs, roasted peppers and tomatoes with pita, and a comparable dish with five red meat meatballs, dressed with yogurt and hot pepper sauce for $12.Fifty-three. I offered a spinach and feta borek to consume at home later. It’s somewhat like spanakopita but is rolled into an extended piece of filo-like dough instead of the traditional square layers of spanakopita. It’s a bargain at $4.Seventy-five.
I’m no longer someone who feels that a meal without dessert isn’t a meal in any respect. But you owe it to yourself to try as a minimum one of the cafe’s offerings. I tried the pistachio baklava ($2.Seventy one), a chew-sized piece of goodness, candy but without the overpowering “hunk of honey” sweetness you on occasion get with baklava. Check out the case complete of Turkish delights, chocolates in a ramification of combos, consisting of pistachios and pomegranates, kiwis and pistachios, orange and hazelnuts, and blueberries, pomegranates, and pistachios.
Sample one for $1.Eighty, three for $4.50, five for $7.20 or a 12-piece box for $sixteen.20. Some customers checked out all of the choices and said: “Just deliver me a few matters which are popular.” My recommendation: You can’t move wrong. Just be adventurous and supply any of them a try. The cafe is fairly new, having opened in March. It remains increasing its menu, and also, you’ll see a few gadgets indexed with a note that they may be introduced soon. Burk, who grew up in Kansas, has lived in Spain, Mexico City, and Turkey.
In truth, the cafe has been a common challenge along with her husband, T. Abraham Burk, who is from Turkey. “We’re slowly including matters,” Janette Burk said, including that she hopes to serve a ramification of salads soon. “People are excited they have an alternative right here,” she stated. It’s a place to either experience a fave cooking culture or strive for the primary time. Add it to your list. You, too, will probably be amazed at this “non-mall-food” choice.
