Santa Monica Restaurant Guide

Situated in the Santa Monica bay of the Pacific ocean, SHAM combines the sophistication of European cuisine with the excitement of eastern spices. It's Syrian culinary influence has been the greatest imprint on modern Arabic cuisine. Dishes from Syria provide the framework for the exotic cuisine recognized internationally as Arabic. Many traditional dishes are simply prepared using grains, vegetables and fruits. Often the same ingredients are used over and over in different ways in each dish.

Yogurt, cheese, cucumber, aubergines, chick peas, nuts, tomatoes, burghul and sesame (seeds, paste and oil) are harmoniously blended into numerous medleys. Parsley and mint are used in vast quantities as are lemons, onions, garlic and olive oil. Pita bread is served with all meals for dipping. Pastries are stuffed with vegetables and vegetables are stuffed with meats. Meat may be made into nuggets then cooked over charcoal. Presentation is always artistic; even the most basic dish is beautifully garnished with a spring of parsley here and a dab of yogurt there and olive oil to cover the food.

Typical starts with mezze - this can be an elaborate spread of forty or fifty hors d'oeuvres or simply a salad and a bowl of nuts. But it is always a social occasion when friends and family gather to enjoy appetizers and conversation before lunch and dinner. A meat, (lamb is the favorite meat) chicken or fish dish follows with salad and rice.

Meals are usually followed by a hot drink of Arabic coffee or Shai (tea) along with fruit, booza (ice cream) and a dessert. Syrian pastries are delightful; they are usually honey soaked pastries with nuts, raisins or cheese. Baqlawa is filo dough baked with nuts and covered with honey. Halawat al-Jibna is a syrup topped doughy pastry filled with cream cheese.