A Southern Grace: aashiana

September 11, 2009

aashiana

Yum

My chicken wrap quest has taken me in both the Greek and Lebanese directions, so my visit to the heavily Indian-influenced Aashiana was a new experience.


I entered the small restaurant space tentatively, and a man in the corner immediately jumped up from a table and greeted me warmly. There were a few other patrons and a LOADED buffet. The smell of curry (not my favorite) permeated the air, but I pressed on and ordered the Kebab Mashweh ($5.99 + tax), described as a chicken kebab wrapped in bread. Lettuce and tomato were included, and I got the sauce on the side.


Proof of the skewering!

As I waited for my wrap to be made, I watched the diners go back to the buffet again and again. Apparently, the buffet is quite a draw, and from what I could see, the variety and quantity were outstanding.

But I wasn’t there for the buffet, I was there for a delicious chicken wrap. Did I get one? Yes, yes, I did. My first bite included some SUPER spicy (we’re talking lip burns here) hunks of chicken ensconced in a soft, pillowy, and slightly chewy naan. I loved the burn, I loved the nicely-browned naan, and I loved the amazing sauce, which was a bit thin but perfectly-made with bits of dill and cucumbers.


The only complaint I can possibly make is that the chicken was quite fatty--I don’t care who you are, you don’t want gristle in your mouth and I don’t either. The owner was extremely nice, and pretty much ordered me to come back and try the lunch buffet. I think I will.

Aashiana
31 Central Ave.
Albany, NY 12210

29 comments:

Barbara said...

Sounds like you had success with this one, Grace! Don't you love naan? So many things you can do with it. I am not a hot and spicy sauce fan- one of the few, I know- but your super photos made my mouth water.

Albany Jane said...

Ahhh, dude, let me know before you go back! I am totally jonesing for that lunch buffet now!

And I'm glad you finally got a hit on the chicken wrap tour of the Cap Region!

lisa is cooking said...

The spiciness sounds good, but you're right about gristle!

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Hehe well if he orders you to come back and have the buffet, you just have to right. It would be impolite otherwise no? ;)

Gloria Baker said...

Grace I really this recipe, I love libanese food! I told you always are in the play! huggs gloria

Gloria Baker said...

I want to say you, have the recipe Grace.?? I love this! gloria

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

That wrap looks terrific! My kind of food...

Cheers,

Rosa

Juliana said...

This libanese chicken wrap looks yummie. Love Mediterranean food :-)

Ingrid_3Bs said...

I really need to time my visits to your blog a little bette again its lunch time and I'm starving. Now only a chicken wrap will do; one that looks EXACTLY like your droolicious photos.
~ingrid

Jennifer said...

I agree we no like fatty chicken in anything! We have a local Lebanese restaurant which is fantastic!

The Blonde Duck said...

Not into gristle, but that wrap sounds great!

Amanda @ Mrs.W's Kitchen said...

Sounds and looks fantastic! Girl, you're making me want to come visit Albany!

maybelle's mom said...

i am loving your quest. though my guess is that the best one is the one you make yourself.

LilSis said...

It all sounds great, except for the fatty chicken!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like the wrap was great overall - the fatty chicken is unfortunate but the spiciness and the naan make up for it!

Pam said...

Not a fan of fatty chicken but I think I would be a huge fan of this wrap. The last shot with dripping sauce made me drool.

Donna-FFW said...

Love the sound and the look of this wrap//// that said gristle, yuck, but I bet the spiciness helped a lot:)

vanillasugarblog said...

yeah, I'm going to need more sauce with this. thank you!
;-P

kimberleyblue said...

Mmmm, sounds good (with the exception of the fatty chicken, of course). Love the skewer hole photo!

Shelly said...

I looooove spicy stuff, so I'd be all over it! Too bad about the gristle. Not down with that either. Ruins my appetite! Nothing worse than biting into that when having an otherwise enjoyable meal.

Lisa said...

Mmmm! I shouldn't be reading this while hungry. "Soft, pillowy, and slightly chewy naan" just sounds sooo great at the moment. Definitely my kind of food.

Velva said...

I really enjoy Lebanese food. This chicken wrap looks really good. The bit about the lip burns...Oh, I could so enjoy this spicy flavor.

You have to go back and check out the buffet and share your experience with us.

Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

oh that does look good!

Rebeca said...

Lol you find the BEST places... so yum... I love the burn too :)

Lori said...

I am so glad you found what you were looking for. That buffet sounds amazing.

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

I can never resist Lebanese food. Last week, in Ottawa, I went to Lebanese restaurants 3 times. We don't have them in this town.

Vera said...

This photo and your description made me seriously hungry; and I've just had my lunch :)

Talita said...

Yummm... this sauce dropping away....

Anonymous said...

Wow those photos were amazing. Almost pornographic!!! That recipe is an awesome addition to any of the chicken recipes I usually make for my lovely husband. If he behaves himself he'll get this one soon.