It is not every day that one has the opportunity to dine in a 300-year old mansion, which is why I especially enjoyed my lunch at the restaurant Kaser Al Wali (Castle of the Governor) in Aleppo, Syria, that was once the home of the Governor of Aleppo. 

In September 2010, I had an excellent lunch at Kaser El Wali, dining in what was once the mansion's courtyard. I was attending the Silk Road Festival, held annually in Syria since 2002, and the weather was perfect to sit outside and enjoy the beauty of the courtyard with its imposing limestone walls, attractive tile floor, wrought iron railings lining the staircases, window flower boxes overflowing with philodendrons and other greenery accenting the many arched windows. It was an elegant setting with high-back wrought iron chairs with decorative seat cushions flanking wrought iron tables dressed with white tablecloths, matching folded napkins, and accessorized with single red Gerber daisies in vases, with a tiered fountain in the center of the courtyard and miniature potted palm trees and other large plants adding visual appeal throughout the restaurant. 

Kaser Al Wali

The restaurant is rich in history as well as traditional cuisine featuring many Aleppine delicacies, including kibbeh, made with bulgur wheat and minced meat, which is a regional specialty. The Aleppine region, known for its 17 varieties of kibbeh dishes, which vary from restaurant to restaurant, and home to home, by the use of different spices and ingredients, and may be fried, baked, or even consumed raw. Although I had eaten kibbeh many times before traveling to Syria, the kibbeh I had previously experienced had been made with a shell of bulgur wheat, which had been stuffed with minced meat, shaped like miniature American footballs, and then fried, so I was eager to try the Aleppine versions. 

My lunch began with assorted olives, homemade pickles, salads, and creamy hummus made with pureed chickpeas, sesame tahini, lemon juice, and garlic, and drizzled with olive oil; as well as garlic cream, which was a tasty sauce made with yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and minced garlic, accompanied with homemade pita. 

Hummus 

I continued with flavorful babaghanouj made with char-grilled aubergine (eggplant) mixed with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, tomatoes, minced mint, and garlic puree; and baked aubergine that was filled with seasoned rice. 

Stuffed Eggplant

Of course, I had to experience the famous kibbeh, as well as sachicha (a spicy type of sausage), chicken taratore and fakhde taratore that are also specialties of the region, and consisted of grilled chicken and grilled meat presented with a delicious sauce of tahini, lemon juice, water, garlic, salt, fresh chopped parsley, and cumin. 

Entrance to Underground Tunnel

After lunch, I had the opportunity to take a private tour of the cellar of the restaurant, where I learned about the interesting history of the building as well as the underground tunnels that once linked all of the homes surrounding the Citadel, created to ensure the safety of the inhabitants if they had to escape invaders. Although the tunnels are now sealed, descending the stone steps to the cellar, I felt a thrill as I could easily distinguish the outline on a wall that was once the opening to a tunnel. Walking through the cellar lined with artifacts, my imagination soared imagining what it must have been like in its day. 

Kaser Al Wali Artifacts

Delicious cuisine and history in abundance, the Kaser Al Wali restaurant is definitely appealing. 

Kaser Al Wali serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Reservations are recommended. 

Read about Kaser Al Wali in the Destinations section. 

Kaser Al Wali
Al Arbaaeen Lane
Aleppo, Syria
Phone:            +963 21 2224354
Fax:                +963 21 2235700
Email:             This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   
Website:        www.KaserAlWali.com      

Read other materials on Syria in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Adventures, and Chefs' Recipes sections. 

For more information on Syria, please visit Syria Ministry of Tourism website: www.SyriaTourism.org. 

© November 2010. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com All Rights Reserved.