Small Dishes from along the ancient Silk Road

Join us Thursday, August 4th for a treat, six specialties from along the ancient Silk Road, the great transcontinental trade route that wound from China across Central Asia, Arabia and Turkey to the Mediterranean. Our dishes will feature cooking from Xinjian in Western China, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Persia, and Turkey.

Our fixed menu, fixed price “tapas” evening will feature six items prepared for you by Chef Tim Dondero and colleagues. Tim will discuss the dishes as they are served. You bring your wine of choice.

Menu: Turkish-Caucasian spread for flatbread containing toasted walnuts and sweet peppers, dried tomatoes, garlic, lemon and pomegranate molasses; Afghan “Borani Kadu” (braised pumpkin) with naan bread; Persian “Mast o’Khiar” (thick yogurt with cucumber and dry mint); Xinjian spicy chicken shish kebabs; Uzbek “Plov” (rice pilaf with lamb, carrot, roasted garlic and saffron); Turkish-Arab dates stuffed with toasted almonds and dusted with sumac, plus dried apricots and pistachios.

Tim’s preferred wine for this selection of dishes would be a chilled white, such as an Albariño or Sauvignon Blanc or a dry Rosé, or for a red, a Pinot Noir or Chianti.

Or -- for a great wine pairing at a modest price, see Dave and Anne Wells at the Healthy Gourmet (1087 Baxter St, telephone 706 353-3107). Dave and Tim frequently teach cooking and wine classes at the Healthy Gourmet, and Dave selects wines to go with Tim’s style of cooking.

Thursday, August 4th. Donderos’ Kitchen, 590 No. Milledge Avenue. First course served at 6:30 PM.

Price $45 for a couple, $25 for a single. Corkage fee is $2 per couple.

Seating is limited. To assure a place, please register in advance.