Four Seasons Hotel Damascus : Take an Oriental Culinary Adventure with Al Halabi Restaurant. (Syria)
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Four Seasons Hotel Damascus : Take an Oriental Culinary Adventure with Al Halabi Restaurant. (Syria)
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Category: Middle East - Syria - Gourmet restaurants -
Gourmet restaurants
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2010-08-06
Explore Aleppean cuisine and culture at Four Seasons Hotel Damascus.
Culinary enthusiasts now have the opportunity to savour the spirit and flavour of traditional Aleppo cuisine, thanks to Al Halabi restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Damascus, the premiere destination for food lovers in Northern Syria. Delight in the Aleppean food tradition at this intimate restaurant and take a cultural journey through diverse specialty dishes and unquestionably authentic flavours.
A Hidden Jewel
The traditional cuisine of Aleppo remains something of a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered, with a rich heritage descending from the Ottoman cuisine, combined with the refined flavours of the Levant and enhanced by the multi-cultural society of this Silk Road city.
"Like all the cuisines of the region, Aleppo cuisine originally derives from Turkey," says Chef Mohamad Helal. "Many Aleppean dishes still carry their original Turkish names, such as yalanji (vine leaves with olive oil), abalma and sheesh barak.”
Aleppo cuisine, however, does boast a rich diversity that is not often found in other Syrian and Lebanese cooking. The standard taboula, moutabal and hummus are accompanied by many different kinds of kabab, grill and Arabic desserts, while new dishes, such as the Al Halabi specialty meat with cherry, are waiting to be discovered. "Kabab and grill are the most diverse in Aleppo," adds Chef Helal. "We offer more than 30 different kinds of grill, far more than what is served in other parts of the region.”
The Aleppean menu also plays host to a variety of unique flavour combinations. Sweet and sour can be found in the form of kebba sfarjalea (kebba with quince), while the power of the chili can be encountered with options varying from chili meat, kabab khashkhash (chili kabab) and chili sauces to chili fresh water fish offerings. Kurdish cheese and Armenian salad also weigh in as essential elements on the Aleppean line-up.
An Oriental Culinary Adventure
Visiting Al Halabi is more than a dining experience, it is an oriental culinary adventure thanks to décor inspired by traditional Aleppo houses and the ambient charms of original Aleppo songs. From 9:30 pm each Saturday and Thursday evening, diners can enjoy meals accompanied by live oud music, played on the traditional pear-shaped stringed instrument. “These evenings have become a favoured ritual among society’s elite whenever they come to stay at Four Seasons Hotel Damascus, thanks to the unique mix of location, food and music,” says Chef Helal.
The Journey Starts with a Bite
"The Aleppean food tradition is spreading throughout all of Europe,” says Chef Helal. “Visitors from the GCC, as well as our western visitors, have responded really positively to the fare at Al Halabi. In the last five years we have noticed an increase in the awareness and appeal surrounding Aleppo food and we have assisted this by reducing the levels of chili in some of the dishes to suit the wide range of visitor palates, offering more moderate options alongside the traditional versions.”
“When new visitors come to Al Halabi I present 30 kinds of appetisers and main courses. This provides a panoramic view of the wide collection of dishes that we serve," explains Chef Helal. "I find that this procedure is really essential as many visitors do not know the names of the dishes, and this way I can explain to them what each dish consists of and where it comes from."
Modernising Traditions
Not content to rest on its laurels, Al Halabi restaurant has also turned its attention to all things technical, with the restaurant’s furnaces and equipment due to receive major refurbishment, while guests can expect to taste up to 100 new dishes starting from October this year.
Damascus Time
At Al Halabi restaurant, lunch is served between 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm daily, while dinner is served between 7:00 pm and 1:00 am, all under the care of 20 dedicated Aleppo chefs.
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