By Danit Schusterman
Photos: Itzik Roytman/COLlive
The December issue of Fleishigs magazine is The Dinner Issue and will be profiling Mama Kitchen’s new location on Main street in Queens.
“In every issue, we like to feature a restaurant that brings new things to the market, a new concept. In this new location, Mama Kitchen has the same vibe as the Brooklyn location (under the CHK supervision) but with a very different style. Both restaurants have the commonality of bringing people together,” says Shifra Klein, Editor in Chief of Fleishigs magazine.
Walking into Mama Kitchen at their new location, one can’t help but feel like they are being transported back in time to the streets of Casablanca, Morocco. This new restaurant is more than just dining. Mama Kitchen is an experience. From the exceptional service, decor and secret ingredients of timeless recipes, Mama Kitchen blends modern design with originality straight from Casablanca. With an Old country feel in Arabesque tile walls, this is the place to enjoy the best in traditional Middle Eastern cuisine in an atmosphere true to its culture.
“Every plate, serving dish, light fixture, vase, Tagine (a Moroccan cooking pot)- it has all been imported from Casablanca,” says Shai Asias, owner of Mama Kitchen.
“This location is a little different than our location in Brooklyn,” says Shai. “In Brooklyn, it is a very casual, homey atmosphere. In our new location, it will be a little more upscale, catering more toward fine dining. The menu is slightly different and on Fridays, we will have a full Shabbat take out menu with lots of salads and dishes for Shabbat.”
“Walking into this restaurant takes me straight back to the Shuk in Jerusalem,” says Chani Apfelbaum of @BusyinBrooklyn. “It’s so inviting and homey and the food reflects it. You can see this is more upscale, but it is not pretentious. I love this type of food, very market to table, fresh, light, amazing spices- this is real food and the vibe in the restaurant is great.”
Shabse Saphirstein, a writer for the Queens Jewish Link, says that the Jewish community in Queens has grown exponentially. He points out that Rabbi Shimon Sadon, the Israeli Rabbi to the community at Shuva Israel has just walked in. Rabbi Sadon says that Mama Kitchen is “a place away from home, that feels just like home.”
Victoria Zirkiev, President of Chazaq Women’s Division, producer for Gad Elbaz, CEO of Hoshen Productions and a resident of Queens, says she is really excited that Mama Kitchen is opening up in her neighborhood. “My husband and I are big foodies!” she says. “We love supporting the Kosher restaurant industry and I’ve never seen anything quite like this – it’s new and it’s exciting.”
Delicious dishes kept arriving at the tables, paired with shots of Arak, each one with a taste of its own. “This is quite possibly the best Chummus I have ever tasted in my life,” says Chani Apfelbaum. “You can actually eat it with a spoon, it’s like butter!” adds Malkie Gordon-Hirsch from @kissthekoshercook. “I’m all for the carbs,” laughs influencer and businesswoman Chagit Leviev. “The Frena bread is amazing!” (Frena bread is a traditional Moroccan bread with many different versions and cooking methods. It is similar to a pita but has more of a bread texture and character).
“The Schug is incredible, and the Ceviche- you don’t even need bread for it,” says Dani Klein, a food and travel adviser from @yeahthatskosher (Ceviche is a seafood dish that is typically made from fresh raw fish cured in fresh citrus juices, most commonly lemon or lime). “Absolutely, the highlight of the night was the Ceviche,” says Melinda Strauss, from @therealmelindastrauss, “the dips and the bread were amazing too.” “The Chicken Tagine with the chickpeas and couscous, that was my absolute favorite,” says Jordana Hirschel, a private chef and culinary officer @theblueladle. “And the Schug had just the right amount of baharat.”
Mama Kitchen made sure to provide an intimate evening of delicious foods, good wine, lots of laughs, music from around the globe and a great ambiance. They look forward to opening their doors to the public within the next few weeks.
Can’t wait to come!
67-25 main St, flushing NY (Kew gardens hills)
Can you deliver Shabbes menu takeout to CH?
By the Vaad Harabonim of Queens.