During a recent visit to Salam, a Mediterranean spot on Kedzie, I was introduced to their "hot sauce". What a "hot sauce"!
We were seated at a table near the back with our beef schwarma, chicken kebabs, foul (fava beans), yogurt salads, and 19-cent falafel balls when the waiter approached. Apparently he spotted me using the "Louisiana Hot Sauce" from the table on my falafel.
"Wait! We have special hot sauce," he said. "I will bring it."
He returned with a small bowl of something resembling pickle relish: chunky and green. "We make it ourselves," he added. "Enjoy".
Ms. EatChicago tasted it first, proclaiming it a bit too hot--the kind of fire that just keeps burning. Excited and intrigued, I laid a conservative dollop on a bite of pita and falafel. Didn't seem like much to me but Ms. EC winced. That one bite nearly blew the back of my head off. The combination of flavor and heat was fantastic. It seemed to be made from pure minced green chilies, marinated in a bit of oil. A perfect accompaniment to the crispy falafel.
The waiter returned to check on us and I told him how wonderful the stuff was. "I didn't think you'd like it. It's too hot for me," he said as he walked away.
Besides the hot sauce/relish, there are other reasons to check out Salam:
- The perfectly-cooked, 19-cent falafel balls.
- The foul: a bowl of half-mashed fava beans garnished with chick peas, oil, and spices.
- A wonderful yogurt salad to cool off the burn.
- It's very affordable.
Check out Salam and the bakery next door at 4636 N. Kedzie. The atmosphere is sparse, but the food is great and the price is right. It's located in a small strip mall with parking. Be sure to get some of the hot sauce/relish. Tags: Post a comment
