Atayaf

[dml]

It's Ramadan and we miss the atayaf (aka atayif, katayif, and many other variations) that our Syrian landlords used to make in Brooklyn for the holidays.

Atayaf are half-moon shaped pastries (for lack of a better word) consisting of a pancake-like wrapper that is filled with either a honey-walnut mixture or ishta (a 'cheese' of sweetened and thickened milk and/or cream), fried, and then, sometimes, doused in syrup.

Does anyone know where they're made around here? SF would be ideal, but anywhere in the bay area would be useful to know.

[Pistou]

Ah, okay, now I know what I got at Sunrise Deli on Irving last week. I asked what they were and the man just said "They're sweet. With walnuts or with cheese." I got the one with cheese and it was awful. It was so bitter I took a tiny bite and threw the rest away. Thoughts on the bitterness?

But this makes me curious to go find a good one.

[BamiaWruz]

Odd that the cheese one was bitter, I would have thought at least the walnut maybe if it wasn't fresh (stale walnuts?) ... How rude of the man too.

Definitely go find a better one because they're absolutely delicious and I'm not even a dessert person but I love 'em.

[Pistou]

Oh, he wasn't rude at all--I didn't mean to give that impression. There was a little bit of a language barrier is all.

I will definitely try to find them at another place and try one again!

[BamiaWruz]

Oh that's good to hear :)

[BamiaWruz]

If you can't find them you could make them yourself :) They're simple. A few steps is all, but simple in general. You could even make the fillings and put them in the fridge until you're free.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EDLhnMB0N8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dab8Pd...

The recipes that require yeast are better than baking powder for the pancakes.

If you decide to go this route and need any additional clarifications or translation let me know and I'd be happy to help.

[Melanie Wong]

I was in Aladdin market in San Mateo this afternoon and asked there. The cashier said that there's a new restaurant in San Mateo that's been making great qatayef. He gave me the owner's name and number. The restaurant is Tartousa Mediterranean Bistro. He said that the owner is Syrian though the restaurant is "Mediterranean" with the food of many countries, and he recommended it highly. If a special order is needed, pls let me know and I'll go in on it with you, I'd love to try them.

Tartousa
514 Peninsula Ave
San Mateo, CA 94401-1612
[phone]
http://te-in.facebook.com/group.php?g...

Owner: Safwan Daya
[phone]

(The restaurant is in the same shopping complex as Celia's and Safeway.)

[Armoise]

I got some last year at Semiramis on Mission and 26th. They were good. If you go can you post if they have them again? I'm not in SF anymore but would make a special trip for those...