Balkan Flavors
Because of Yougoslavia and for some Austria and Hungaria, todays Balkan countries have much in common as far as cuisine goes. Byzantium and the Ottoman Empires also contributed to the whole of the region and obviously the peoples of the Balkans brought their own dishes to the area.
This makes Balkan cuisine a little famiiar to the Greeks but not familiar enough making it a great cuisine to explore.
From Croatia to Bulgaria and Albania to Bosnia and everywhere in between there are some amazing dishes left to be explored. There are several places to try Balkan food right here at home.
First stop is in Astoria, New York.
Next up is a Balkan restaurant also located in an area that had many Greeks like Astoria. Restaurant Sarajevo in Chicago's old Greektown not far from Lawrence and Western. This place specializes in Bosnian cuisine and it's a big hit.
If you haven't had Bosnian or Balkan food in general go for the Bosnian Mix Plate. You'll get to sample several different types of meats and your choice of a side. When the bread arives instead of butter you'll get a Bosnian cheese called Kaymak that spreads easily and is classified as cream cheese. This was so good that a couple days later I popped into my Greek produce market searching for it in the international section. That was my morning meal for a week and a half.
Give them a try and you'll love their food. Visit Restaurant Sarajevo for a true Balkan feast.
Restaurant Sarajevo
2701 W. Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 275-5310
Photos Courtesy of Amuse Bouche.