This Tunisian chef wants to bring the foods of North Africa to your kitchen
EVANSVILLE – As Evansville’s palate has become more worldly, we’ve heard some diners long for the foods of North Africa.
Now it’s coming your way with Sahara Tunisian Cuisine catering.
Who is chef Hichem Ameur?
Chef Hichem Ameur has lived in Evansville for a little over a year and is ready to bring you the food of his heart. He’s from Tunisia, a North African country situated on a wedge of coast between Algeria and Libya.
Ameur is an adventurer who has traveled the world working as a chef on cruise ships. He made his way to the United States and settled briefly in Miami, wandered through Michigan, then came to the Evansville area to see friends and decided to settle.
“I like it here,” he said. He’s worked restaurant jobs while improving his English, and is now fluent and ready to start with in-home catering. In the immediate future, he’d like to begin sharing the foods of North Africa with local gatherings to build a clientele and name for himself as a chef. In the longer term, he’d like to open one or more restaurants in the area.
What is Tunisian and North African food like?
If you’re familiar with Moroccan food, which is the most locally well-known of the North African cuisines, you have the general idea, although Tunisian cuisine is, of course, unique. Ameur can provide any of the North African favorite dishes.
He’ll have a menu of recommended dishes including appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes and desserts for catered functions, but he’s ready to customize the spread for any occasion.
Foods from North Africa tend to be spicy, but Ameur will tone down the chili heat for American audiences unless a more traditional heat level is requested. You’ll find lots of seafood, chicken and lamb, tomatoes, lentils and beans, pasta and grains, peppers, eggs, olives and olive oil, herbs and spices. Here are a few examples of the many exotic dishes on the Sahara menu:
Couscous is a North African staple, but don’t expect the tiny nubbins of semolina pasta made by Ameur to taste like the instantly-rehydrated kind we get from the grocery store. Traditional couscous is rubbed with olive oil and steamed in a special container, periodically stirred and fluffed to get just the right texture.
Tagines are another dish found across North Africa. The tagine itself is a pot with a conical lid specially made so the steam from slowly simmering food condenses and drips back into the center of the dish. Some tagine dishes are rich stews of meat or vegetables. In Tunisia, “tagine” or "tajeen" may refer to an omelet or frittata-like affair, an egg dish full of potatoes and chicken and baked, then sliced to be served cold.
Shakshuka is eggs poached in a thick, spicy tomato sauce with sweet peppers, garlic and spices. You’ll find versions of this dish from Egypt to Morocco.
Briq is a delicate, fried triangular pastry with various stuffings that might include potato, egg, or tuna. If you are a fan of Indian samosas or Greek phyllo pies, you’ll enjoy brik.
Harira is a famous North African soup made with chick peas, lentils, tomatoes, spices and beef or lamb (if desired) in a rich, mild broth
Mishwiya salad is a savory mixture of grilled or roasted peppers, onions, tomatoes, and more marinated in a tangy dressing.
Maqlouba is an entree of meat, vegetables including eggplant and tomatoes, and rice, cooked in a pot with spices and inverted onto a platter to serve.
To contact Chef Hichem Ameur about catering, visit Sahara's Facebook page, call 812-459-3262, or e-mail at hichemferniz16@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Tunisian chef Hichem Ameur catering in Evansville
