Sahara shawarma stopped

Home City News Sahara shawarma stopped

The aroma of rich Mediterranean spices and ethnically-seasoned meats no longer fill Hillsdale’s Sahara Deli at the Grab-and-Go Gas Station on the corner of Fayette Street and state Route 99. Since the deli’s head chef, Muhammad Ali, recently returned to Yemen, the deli will not serve its shawarma and hot foods until another authentic cook is found.

“Our last cook didn’t have as much experience as we wanted,” owner Kamal Altam said. “As soon as we find someone locally, who can prepare the quality food we are looking for, we’ll be back with the hot food. Until then, we are still serving our signature cold sandwiches and wraps.”

The Altam brothers’ upbringing is a testament to their ability to offer authentic cuisine. They grew up in the Bronx, where their father first ran a candy shop. There, they began to enjoy cooking. Ali Altam learned half of his skills from his mother and the other half from LaGuardia Community College, where he took culinary classes.

The family lived in New York City for 12 years, where it also operated a grocery store with a deli inside. From there, the family moved and worked in Fort Wayne, Indiana before moving to Hillsdale and buying a gas station.

The Altams opened the deli in January 2012 and is the only Mediterranean restaurant in the county. The unique business gained many local customers in the community and college due to its desire for quality, ethnic food.

“A lot of people ask questions and are bummed out when they see we aren’t serving our signature food,” Gas-and-Go employee Emilee Mohler said. “It’s not fun being the bearer of bad news.”

Customers say they love the exotic flavors of the ethnic ingredients, oils, and deli meats, and many still crave their favorite menu items.

“The most missed dish has been the chicken shawarma,” Kamal said. “It was one of our favorite items, and the gyros were also a big hit.”

Many Hillsdale College students had their own favorite menu items, too.

“Getting falafel from Sahara was a treat,” senior Kelsey Drapkin said. “I’ve been to Israel multiple times, and I can easily say they made the best falafel I’ve had outside of Israel. It’s a little weird to get food from a gas station, and some of my friends think I’m crazy for loving it so much, but they were serving some really great food.”

The authentic hot food will make a comeback, though, once the brothers find a cook who meets their expectations.

“I hope they begin to serve it again soon,” Drapkin said. “It’s food that deserves to be eaten.”