Afghanistan's Gem Hunters | Afghan Scene Magazine - Asia-Africa ...

sceneAfghan Scene December 2009 sceneAfghan Scene December 2009Yo,Sushi!At long last Kabul has a proper sushirestaurant but AFGHAN SCENE warnsdiners to book ahead to avoiddisappointmentBentoya, Galleria, Kolola Pushta, opposite DutchEmbassy, next to Wakhan CafePhone number: +93-(0)798-405486OUT OF HARAM’S WAY: Seafood tempura style at Silk Road KabulIt has long been one of the culinaryoddities of Afghanistan that to get reallygood Sushi you have to go all the way toBamiyan and stay at Hotel Silk Road.The intrepid Japanese journalist, who firstcame to the country in 1993, set the placeup in 2007 for travellers who want to see oneof the wonders of Afghanistan in reasonablecomfort.Visitors now flock to her hotel to stay inbeautifully appointed rooms with wonderfulviews across the Bamiyan valley to the giantBuddha niches in the cliff face opposite.Not only can Hiromi and her Afghanhusband boast the country’s best (and only)boutique hotel, she also oversees one ofAfghanistan’s finest kitchens which serves upexcellent Japanese, Indian and western food inthe Silk Road’s immaculately clean dining room.Both Laura Bush and President Karzaihave enjoyed lunches at the hotel whilst onwhistle stop tours of Bamiyan.But with winter putting the hotel intohibernation, Hiromi and some of her trustedstaff have decamped to Kabul to set up thelatest wing of an expanding empire that alsoincludes a handicrafts business.Sushi enthusiasts can now sample fromthe small but perfectly formed menu whilstinspecting some of those handicraft wares,which include bags and rather stylish hatsmade out of kilims and chapans.The food comes with rice, miso soup andthe main event, whether it is the excellentchicken teriyaki, seafood tempura orHiromi’s special vegetable curry made withan ingenious mixture of Japanese and Indianspices.64Afghan Scene December 2009www.afghanscene.comwww.afghanscene.comAfghan Scene December 200965