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SUPPER CLUB: A Feast from Iraq by Chef Abbas Wadi

July 11, 2024 @ 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

- $79.00

This event takes place at CSI Spadina, 192 Spadina Ave., Suite 501

Iraqi cuisine is one of the world’s most ancient, dating at least back to the time of the Mesopotamians. Often overlooked and underrepresented in Toronto’s vast Middle Eastern dining scene, it boasts a rich, complex history of its own and a range of nuanced dishes. While there’s no shortage of street foods from the region to be found in our cornucopia of a city — kebabs, falafel, etc. — less well known and less frequently experienced outside of Iraqi culture are the domestic dishes enjoyed by friends and families at home. Tonight Chef Abbas Wadi takes a break from the kitchen of one of Toronto’s most prestigious steakhouses to introduce us to the home cooking he grew up with, passed down lovingly in his family and now shared on our tables at The Depanneur.
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Temmen (Iraqi-Style Basmati Rice, prepared 4 ways)
Iraqi cuisine is renowned for its rice, prepared in myriad ways, each with a distinct flavour. Far from a bland side dish, specific preparations of rice are thoughtfully paired with particular dishes to complement and enhance their flavour.

Red Rice with meat broth, tomato paste, and hot red pepper;
Yellow Rice with authentic saffron and orange peel;
Green Rice with dill and onions;
Brown Rice with a blend of spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, anise, coriander, cumin, and black pepper.

These exquisite rice dishes are enriched with a generous garnish of pistachios, walnuts, almonds and/or cashews, along with dates, raisins and/or barberries.

Maraq Bamiaa (Okra Stew)
A favourite dish during the summer when fresh young okra is available, an ingredient deeply beloved in Iraqi culture. The small young okra pods are slowly cooked with beef tenderloin, fresh tomato and a light blend of Iraqi spices, along with tamarind, lemon and a touch of sugar to give it a distinctive sweet-and-sour flavour. The delicacy of this dish — it disintegrates if reheated too often — means it rarely ever appears on restaurant menus.

Maraq Kousa (Zucchini Stew)
Another popular summer dish, this thick stew is fortified with chickpeas and features fresh zucchini — ideally the pale green, variegated variety known in the West as marrow gourd — slowly cooked with tomato and a blend of turmeric and coriander seed which lends it its distinctive yellow colour and enticing aroma.

Baghdadi Salad
No dinner table is complete with a a refreshing salad of some kind to cleanse the palate and balance the richness of the other dishes. This recipe, typical of Baghdad, Iraq’s cosmopolitan capital, consists of cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, tender chickpeas, and fennel in a dressing of lemon, pomegranate molasses, apple cider vinegar, and dried wild mint.

Helawat Al Jaz (Carrot sweets)
Carrot halwa amplifies the natural sweetness of fresh carrots, cooked down to a thick consistency with sugar syrup infused with cinnamon, saffron, and anise. It is left cool and solidify before being cut into dainty cubes and garnished with pistachios.
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$79 + HST
B.Y.O.B.; no corkage fees

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Abbas Wadi is originally from Baghdad, Iraq, arriving in Canada as a refugee in 2014. His journey in cooking began in Toronto, driven by a passion for sharing the rich flavours of Middle Eastern cuisine, particularly the ancient and diverse tastes of Iraqi food. Throughout his career, Abbas worked in numerous Arabic and Western kitchens, and currently works at BlueBlood Steakhouse inside Casa Loma.
@chef_wadi14 @letseat_14

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The Depanneur is Where Interesting Food Things Happen. For more than a decade The Dep has been showcasing Toronto’s remarkable culinary diversity through thousands of unique food events as well as the forthcoming Depanneur Cookbook. After more than 10 years at its iconic College Street location, The Dep is now bringing all new Interesting Food Things to exciting venues all across the GTA. @TheDepanneur

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Details

Date:
July 11, 2024
Time:
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost:
$79.00
Event Category:

Organizer

The Depanneur
Phone
416-828-1990
Email
info@thedepanneur.ca
View Organizer Website

Venue

CSI Spadina
192 Spadina Ave., Suite 501
Toronto, Ontario M5T 2C2 Canada
+ Google Map
Phone
416-979-3939
View Venue Website