Sahara: A Culinary Oasis in Pasadena

Ask a friend about the nomadic history of the kabob and you are sure to come face-to-face with a puzzling expression. But ask this same friend about their favorite kabob house and they will joyously support you with an answer.

The history of the kebab is teeming with adventure. This skewer of meat is commonly traced back to Persia or Pre-Ottoman Turkey and as this culinary invention spread across the globe it began to marry with the cultures it encountered. The Greeks added vegetables to the kebab, Pakistan and the countries of Southeastern Asian modified the kebab in the spicy flavors that versed their other meals. Indonesians decided to make satay their national dish, which is nothing more than a kebab by another name. When Americans encountered this globetrotting delicacy they adored it so much they increased the size of the meat on each skewer.

The kebab is the dish of the common man and the king. The history of the kebab probably goes back to the time of Adam and Eve. In the same way we discover music in every culture, whether that civilization is of the primitive past or professed as advanced. But I find it more difficult to believe that we call ourselves developed we are the ones who enthusiastically devour hotdogs on a stick and those so-called primitively ancient cultures were feasting on fresh killed animal meat. I’m persuaded to feel that this method of cooking was almost spirituall in the way it burst to life around the world.

If all this history is making you hungry I have an answer for that as well.

Sahara Restaurant in Central Pasadena is one of my favorite spots for sit-down and takeout. I probably eat Sahara at three times a month and that is more than I cook at home. The dining room is simple and the walls hang with pictures of Lebanon. A loving shrine to Garo’s father and the country he still loves. Sahara is named after his father’s restaurant in Lebanon and Garo’s promised his son Sebastian that if they were ever made it to America their restaurant would be have the same name in his honor. Sahara opened its doors in 1993, exploring Old Town Pasadena before settling in Central Pasadena. As far as the recipes for the restaurant they are all reside in Garo’s head and like his father before him, Garo’s will one day entrust the secrets to his son, Sebastian, but not yet.

The kitchen is open and this allows you to savor your meal before you take a single bite. The menu includes a list of kebabs and one of my favorites is the Lulu, ground-seasoned lamb with beef ($11.25). If it’s your first go at this oasis order the Combination ($14.75) as it offers a little of everything. For the vegetarians in the group the falafel ($8.25) sandwich is available. All the dishes arrive with feta cheese, pita bread, cucumber, and hummus, though I always ask nicely for a substitution of babaghanouj (eggplant) it’s the real deal, and your choice of lentil soup or my favorite the cabbage salad. Often I’ll save the cabbage salad for a later snack, it’s that good.

Two enthusiastic thumbs up for Sahara! The food is fresh so when they are out of an item they are out until the following day.

Beer and Wine-Sorry No Lebanese Beer, owner said they’d drink it. Closed on Sundays.

Oasis is located at 2226 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena (626) 795-6900 or visit www.sahararestaurant.com.

“Dining with Dills” the Radio Show airs each and every Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. on Angeles Radio Station KLAA AM 830. You can get ahold of Peter through his website www.peterdills.com where you will find past articles and pictures from his culinary adventures.