"NEWS plioto Brad Ledwidge

CHEF KIANCSH “Kay” Wafai (left) and Majic Soltanmchammadi of The Caspian Restaurant offer up
a sampling of Persian feare that includes doilmeh, grapevine leaves stuffed with spicy beef and rice.

Crusade for

ersian

food ends at Caspian!

The Cas; spian Restaurarst, 1495
' Marine Dr., West Varaccuver.
922-0101. Visa, Master€Card and
American Express ac cepted.
Open from 11:30 a.m. eweryday.
Fully licensed. Take the kids or
call a babysitter? You could do

hemi ‘for tonight:

© Kashk-Bademjan ($4.93)

© Lamb Shish Kabob ($¥72.95)
° Zereshk Polo with Catcken
($9.95).

FTER TWO long years,
‘the special Table
_ AHopping Middle
Eastern expeditionary force
charged with finding a North
Shore restaurant that serves
good authentic Persian food
has hit pay dirt.

Weary members have filed
dispatches from the four corners
of this rugged land during their
long and largely fruitless crusade.

Excerpts trom those cryptic
communiqués include stach emo-
tional revelations as “fin ally seat-
ed after a day's march weighed
down with tull critic’s backpack
only to be presented with a salad
consisting of a half white onion
and several whole radiskres. The
crestfallen faces of the ren told
the whole story: foiled again.
Tomorrow our search continues

Many of the leads sce>uted out
and tracked down by thee Middle
Eastern team ended in places
serving pizzas, spaghetti and the
occasional kabob.

Hardly authentic; rarely edi-
ble.

Word of the Caspiaz? @arlier
this year rekindled hope, howev-
er, that a restaurant with the
expertise to serve teal Persian
food without having to Srop itup
with more familiar
Mediterranean fast food ~vould
take root on the North Shore.

its arrival in late July cid not
disappoint expectations -

Iraj Ziatabari’s Casprez nis in
the vast (20-seat seconcd-storey
venue occupied tor so many
years by Willy and Martha
Brueckel and their Amivfeside
inn,

chewy sesame seed bread
accompany.

Caspian appetizers ($3 to $5)
range trom Mast-O-Khiar ($3.75
for yogurt with chopped cucum-
ber and mint) to dolmeh ($4.95
for six steamed grapevine leaves
stuffed with beef, rice, spices and
sour cream).

Our sampled Kashk-Bademjan
was a rich serving of fried ege-
plant and garlic doused in oil
and topped with sour cream —
an excellent accompaniment for
the Caspian’s sesame-seed bread
and hors d’oeuvres plate.

The restaurant's main entrée
menu is split into sections of
kabobs ($9 to $16) and stews ($9
to $13}.

Caspian kabobs, all served on
platters heaped with fine white
Basmati rice and grilled toma-
toes, include everything from
kabob koobideh (ground beef) to
kabob karg (beef tenderloin),
chicken breast and shrimp.

The meats are flame-broiled
and delicious. Persian dining tra-
dition calls for hearty consump-
tion of said kabobs with a Jarge
scoop of rice mashed together
with butter and broiled tomato.

For those who might prefer a
non-kabob alternative, Ziatabari
might suggest a Koresh Ghormeh
Sabzi ($9.95): meat with red kid-

Timothy Ren Renshaw :
TABLE HOPPING

His restaurant is a dramatic
departure from its predecessor,
which served heavy central
European cuisine hosted by the
gracious Brueckels and accom-
panied by live guiter and an
occasional string quartet.

Ziatabari, who ran a restau-
rant for 18 years in London,
England, yriur to opening the
Caspian, shares the Brueckels’
customer service instincts and
accommodating manner.

With an abundance of waiters
attired in formal black and white,
the Caspian’s service is pleasant
and swift.

its kitchen, meanwhile, turns
out a wide selection of Persian
dishes.

An hors d’oeuvre plate of
zadishes, mint leaves, green
onions aint feta cheese topped
with walnuts is presented to din-

ers upon arrival. Baskets of See Persian page 44

ee en ee ee ee ee oe oe ot ey

/ TORCHY’S RESTAURANT | 1

VALID UNTIL
OCTOBER 6/94

Present this coupon and receive 7 DINNER for 1/2 price
when a second meal of equal or greater value is purchased.
*Dine-in onty ° Valid Sunday through Thursday

1050 W. Queens Rd., Edgemont Village
TORCHY’S 987-7444, N. Vancouver |

pone ee ee or oe

Wednesday, September 7, 1994 ~ North Shore News — 29

CS TT TT eee ee

Flavour of India

sp SUN. THRU THURS.
hme LCDR? 1, FREE DINNER |
are one dinner entree, recone a second entrea of equal or

present coupon to secver before ordering,
lesser value FREE. Expires Sept 18/9¢
“Excludes beverages and Tanuooti Entrees. Dinner Mon.-Sal. 5-10; Sun.5-9

FAST OR FREE ceric tunch ony ash tom ow mer)
for $5. O5 Served in 20 min. of less or it's Free!

12-2:30 - Mon.-Fri
175 E. 3rd St, N.Van. Fully Licensed 985-5477

Name : _
addioss:__

ee en eS)

52 Purchase one entree at the regular price and
receive a second entree of equal or lesser
fy value at no additional charge upon
BM presentation of this coupon.
* Maximum value $12.00
7 * Valid till Sept. 17, '94
e Nat valid on deliveries, take-out, Sunday
brunch or with other offers.

? FOR 1 LUNCH

i Purchase one entree at the regular price and

1351 ee N.Van &

receive a second entree of equal or lesser
value at no additional charge upon
presentation of this coupon.
E: e Maximum value $7.00
e Valid till Sept. 17, '94
¢ Not valid on deliveries, take-out, Sunday
brunch or with other offers.

ee

1351 Lonsdale, N. Yan
985-5385
2M ce 2

r  OFORTI

2 FOR 1 i
| , DINNER SPECIAL | |

Enjoy one complimentary entree when a second entree
of equal or greater value is purchased.
Value up to $14.95

i BRIDGE HOUSE
{RESTAURANT

i 3650 Capilano Road
i North Vancouver
| Valid until September 13, 1994

| 987-3388

reservations strongly recommended

Velentino’

Serving Home Style Italian Cuisine

; 21 Combinations of Pasta
Fabulous Veal, Chicken, Fish & Meat Dishes

BACK TO SCHOOL
y) | SPECIAL

SuRtwous &—
ot PASTA SPECI
Combinations §
of Pasta!!

95 porn, < <
Offer ends
alll ate..eccscssoees
with the purchase of soup or wad

Sept. 13 '94
(appties to tench & dinner menu)

One coupon per couple
Early Bird Specials
Monday & Tuesday
oo e
are Seniors Days

5:00-6:30pm
Complimentary
, ors d'oeuvres
20% off with purchase of
2168 Marine Drive, W. Van. (underground parking at rear)
; RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
ROPEN DAILY fo

entre
A Dinner fron Spm
8 Lunch 11:30-200) Mon.-Fri.
1:00-2:00 Sun.

925-2765

GBounch