Middle Eastern Food for Christmas? Absolutely!
By Terry Miller
Published: Thursday, December 24th, 2009
By Terry Miller
Chicken King Express, a wildly delicious and equally healthy fast food restaurant has made quite a name for itself in the Foothill community of Monrovia since it opened last October.
Owner Armen Kahvedjian who specializes in Rotisserie chicken and kebobs also boasts a great selection of vegetarian foods for which many people in town, including this hungry photographer, are delighted.
As a kid growing up in England, Christmas always meant Turkey, roast potatoes, cabbage and pretty much anything else you can stick in a pot and boil. Boring really, and far too predictable if you ask me.
It was probably in those years that I became a latent vegetarian, always hiding my meat from Dad until dinner was over, or if I was lucky, managing to sneak it to the dog and cats under the table. Come to think of it, this may be the reason cats and dogs have been following me around ever since! But I digress.
So as you might imagine, it can be difficult to piece together a good holiday meal sans meats. And perhaps the last place you’d expect to find Christmas goodies would be at a place that specializes in falafel, hummus, tabouli and baba ghanoush. But actually, this is exactly what I was hoping for: something different, colorful, healthy and most importantly, something vegetarian.
Of course, as the name implies, rotisserie chicken is one of Chicken King’s standards, so worry not if you’re still of the carnivorous persuasion. But there is so much more than meat at the King, as I recently discovered.
My friend at DigiTech Camera repair, right next door to Chicken King Express, said that I simply had to try the food there one day.
I did, and so too did my wife and mother in law. We agreed to try different dishes, so they had chicken kebobs served with rice, hummus and pita bread and a side of mashed potatoes. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many “wows” in one meal sitting. In a word, the food is marvelous.
Everything at Chicken King Express is made fresh daily. No canned goods are used, which means the chefs need a lot of preparation time. Armen’s son Shant and Chef Joe help get all the necessary ingredients together and prepare for the day. Only the freshest seasonal veggies make it into their new Fattoush Salad, made with seven greens and special dressing.
Kahvedjian is quick to point out that nothing is frozen and only the best ingredients and spices are used to create the unique flavor that is distinctively Middle Eastern, but nevertheless exclusive to Chick King, as all their recipes have been handed down within the family for generations.
One of my favorites at the restaurant is the surprisingly moist and extremely flavorful Falafel. Despite my love for this dish, I often find falafels I’ve had in the past are bone dry and thus not terribly appetizing. This is not so at the King. Another sensory delight is the mashed potato. Be sure to try this side, and don’t forget the garlic sauce.
Despite popular belief, Christmas is observed in some Middle Eastern countries. It is estimated that there are over 10 million Christians living in the Middle East, with most living in Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria. Saudi Arabia currently has a ban on any other religion besides Islam, so no Arab Christians can be accurately accounted for in that country. Smaller Arab Christian populations can also be found in Iraq, Turkey, and other countries.
The Christmas dinner menu varies from country to country, depending on what ingredients are available and what is native to each region. Nevertheless, here are some dishes you may find for Christmas dinner across the Middle East:
The mezze, or appetizers in the Middle East are an important part of the meal. You will find many dishes served on small plates in a Middle Eastern mezze. Common Middle Eastern appetizers – all of which you can find at Chicken King – include some the following tasty dishes.
Hummus is one of the most popular Middle Eastern appetizers. Made with mashed chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, and spices, hummus is used as a dip for breads, pita sandwiches, and even veggies. Several different spices and ingredients can be used to add a variety of flavors to hummus. Popular hummus variations include roasted garlic, red pepper, and kalamata olive hummus.
Baba ghanoush (ba-ba ga-noosh) is just as fun to eat as it is to say! This eggplant based dip is full of flavor and super easy to make. Like hummus, baba ghannouj has tahini, a sesame paste, as one of its main ingredients. The slightly smoked flavor of the eggplant is accompanied by garlic and the dish is served with pita wedges or veggies.
Stuffed grape leaves are called dolmas in Greece and warak einab in Egypt, and they are delicious no matter where you’re from or what you call them. Ground beef, rice and tomatoes are wrapped in a grape vine leaf and then steamed to perfection. The vegetarian stuffed grape leaves are another personal favorite of mine.
Fried Kebbeh which is a delicate meat is also offered at the King, and I’m told that it’s extremely tasty. The national dish of Lebanon, kebbeh in its simplest form is oval shaped nuggets made with a mix of ground lamb and bulgur, a Middle Eastern grain high in fiber and protein.
A small family-owned business, the King has no plans to become anything but a good family restaurant where people can eat good healthy food without digging too deep into their pockets. A family of four can have a meal here for under $20. That’s a bargain in my book!
And yes, it really is healthy. In fact, one diner I spoke with said he has lost a total of 39 pounds since he began eating lunch at Chicken King Express. Michael Keller of Sierra Madre said that he started eating non-fat foods and this with a small amount of exercise has helped him lose those unwanted pounds. Watch out Subway.
The restaurant encourages people to dine in, but they will also gladly make local deliveries. While the name suggests a steady take-out style business, many come in to eat and chat with the owners. It really is a family affair.
Chicken King Express is located at 445 W Foothill Blvd. in Monrovia. Call them at (626) 305-3111 for more details or stop by for a meal. And make sure to tell them Monrovia Weekly sent you!
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