PDF file - Community Services Center

CSC NEWS
tEXt: KARI sCHIRO IMAGEs: COuRtEsy Of tAjIn REstAuRAnt
for this month’s tastes of taipei on february 9th we are
headed to Morocco – or, more accurately, to tajin, taipei’s
own little slice of north Africa, tucked away in an alley of the
Daan neighborhood. stylishly adorned with Moroccan tajines, the
restaurant specializes in – you guessed it – tajin, the famed north
African slow-cooked stew that is named for the earthenware pot
in which it is simmered.
The husband and wife team Hicham Samh
and Sandy Wu own and manage the
restaurant. Before opening Tajin, Hicham,
a native of Casablanca and the chef behind
Tajin’s delectable dishes, worked as a model (you
may recognize him from a mobile phone commercial
in which he portrays U.S. President Barack Obama!)
and English teacher in Taiwan. Sandy, who has a
knack for design and brand management, lived in
Italy (where she attended fashion school in Milan),
and New York before returning to Taipei to pursue
her new career in restaurant ownership.
Tajin was born from Hicham’s propensity for
cooking – and from their friends’ fondness for
consuming his culinary concoctions, according to
Sandy. She explains, “Our friends loved the food
and always asked [Hicham] to open a restaurant in
Taipei, since there is no Moroccan restaurant here.”
So open a restaurant they did on June 20th, 2011.
And although Tajin is less than one year old, its
brief history is storied. Most notably, three months
ago it served as the venue for Hicham and Sandy’s
wedding!
In the kitchen, the duo pride themselves on the
authentic and high-quality ingredients that go into
every dish. Soups, tajins, and couscous are flavored
with spices imported from Morocco, and all meats
served are halal.
While the savory food may be the restaurant’s
biggest draw, the décor makes for a truly delightful
dining experience. With the help of their artist
friend Jean Scuderi from France, Sandy and Hicham
painted the walls with beautiful North African
scenes. They also hand-painted all of the tajines in
the restaurant, each one with a unique pattern, and
all of the teapots, teacups, and decorative lanterns
come from Morocco.
For The Center’s Tastes of Taipei event, Hicham
and Sandy have created a special set menu for $700
per person (please note that the restaurant only
accepts cash). The menu includes soup, salad, tajin
or couscous, saffron rice, dessert and Moroccan tea.
This culinary journey to Morocco is one you will
not want to miss!
please call the restaurant directly to make your reservation and let them know that you are with the
Community Services Center.
date: thursday, february 9th, 2012
Time: 6 pm – 9 pm venue: Tajin
address: 3, Lane 144, keelung road section 2
台 北 市 基 隆 路 二 段 144 巷 3 號 phone: 2732-7296
price: nT$700 per person (cash only, no credit cards)
website: http://tajin27327296.pixnet.net/blog
or “Tajin Moroccan cuisine” on facebook
Kari Schiro is a native Californian and an adoptive Seattleite who recently
relocated to Taipei. When she is not writing, you will most likely find Kari
watching football/soccer on the telly.
www.communitycenter.org.tw february 2012
27