I had one of the top ten dishes of the year today in the middle of what could have been a dreary day. 
It was raining and I was limping around puddles on my way to a lunch meeting in Soho. I had just come from the podiatrist, my throbbing foot wrapped to within an inch of its life to protect the plantar fascia, the ligament that goes along my arch to my heel. I had injured it, as athletes will do, in some moment of extreme competitive zeal, which I cannot at this moment recall. It only hurts when I walk, Mother.
So, I was in pain, I was late, I was wet, I was peckish. Not a good potential lunch partner.
I was meeting two fine fellows who work for my book publisher, so they know their way around a lunch table. They had chosen Balaboosta on Mulberry Street and I’m glad they did.
Chef Admony
Einat Admony is the chef/partner at Balaboosta. She grew up in Israel but she seems to seek out flavors from the whole Mediterranean region – especially those that drift over from North Africa.
I ordered the shakshouka – a Morrocan baked egg dish in a spicy tomato sauce redolent with North African spices. Add some spinach, some generous morsels of Merguez sausage and two healthy slices of grilled bread napped with olive oil. The bread is for sopping up the sauce, of course. Sopping up being one of my favorite mealtime endeavors.
On a cold, blustery day — and there are going to be a lot of them coming up — head down to Balaboosta and order a bowl of this spicy tomato-ey, baked-eggy, sausage-ey treat. It’ll make your week.
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Looks good to me….an alternative to my go-to french onion soup..now if only somewhere in Toronto made it….
take care of that foot.
I’ve made a version of this from the Plenty Cookbook and it was faulous. Tonight I’m making a tamarind, swisschard, chickpea stew from that same book and thinking of my favorite vegan.
Mike, was it really raining in the city. I’m from Sussex County NJ and it was the most gorgeous day ever! So warm, and not a cloud in the sky.
By the way, I’ve been bothered with foot problems , probably from all the jobs I’ve had requiring me to stand. I also think I may have plantar fascia. Had some foot surgery 10 years ago that did not solve the problem. Recently retired, so that’s helped. Had a massage the other day, really helped. BUT a friend suggested I take cod liver oil pills. (she did for her arthritis and it had amazing results). Been doing that for about 3 weeks now, and finally, am able to get out of bed not feeling like I have crippled feet. Could it be the cod liver oil, retirement, massage? Or all of the above. I don’t know………But for now, I’m not complaining!!!
@ Gloria — I’m glad your feet feel better. Feet are definitely going to be my issue as I get older. One of issues. Can you cook with cod liver oil?
@ Becky – I’m checking out the Plenty Cookbook. Thanks.
@ Debbie – you can make French onion soup. Check out Julia Child’s recipe. Let me know.
Mmmmm. Know it well. Also popular in Tunisia. Love the name, too. Checked out “Plenty”. Looks great and the the odd vegan substitution would be easy.