HP_051117

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22 | May 11, 2017 | The highland park landmark dining out hplandmark.com A second act for Phoenicia Highland Park Mediterranean restaurant takes on new life with ownership change Courtney Jacquin, Editor Fay Zand always knew she wanted to get back into the restaurant business. After being a part of three successful Italian restaurants in California earlier in her life, she and her husband, Tony Faraji, had been looking to jump back in. When they learned the previous owner of Highland Park’s Phoenicia Mediterranean Restaurant was looking to sell, they jumped at the opportunity. “I always wanted to get back to the restaurant business because I love cooking, I love hosting,” Zand said. After nearly a year under their ownership — Faraji and Zand took over in July 2016 — Phoenicia is continuing to serve the restaurant’s tried and true items, but with some important updates. “We made [the restaurant] more Mediterranean and Middle Eastern with a touch of Western influence,” Zand said. Zand and Faraji are of Persian heritage, while the previous owner was Lebanese. So while they are continuing to serve the previous menu items, they’re looking to incorporate more classic Persian dishes, such as kashk-e bademjan, an eggplant and yogurt dish, which now is an appetizer on the menu ($7.95). Zand’s hosting chops are evident in the restau- Kalaya ($19.95), which includes a choice of beef, lamb or chicken, is sauteed with onion, tomatoes, green peppers and mushrooms in a light red sauce. The dish is infused with herbs and seasoning, and served with oven-roasted potatoes, marinated red cabbage and rice pilaf. Phoenicia Mediterranean Restaurant 1910 First St., Highland Park (847) 266 9990 3:30 p.m.–9 p.m. Monday 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday Phoenicia’s hummus ($7.95 for a full order, $5.95 for a half order) is a tasty appetizer made of pureed chickpeas, tahini and lemon juice, and topped with extra virgin olive oil and paprika. Served alongside the appetizer are helpings of warm pita bread. Photos by Jacqueline Glosniak/22nd Century Media The couscous vegetarian ($17.95) consists of sauteed vegetables braised with garlic, tomatoes, cilantro and herbs over couscous and finished with the chef’s sauce and a hint of mild madras curry. The plate is served with organic spinach, marinated red cabbage, boiled mango and dried apricot. rant’s updates outside of the menu — the dining room now has more lighting, candles and roses are placed on each table, and more updates, such as an expanded bar, are coming in the future. “We’re trying to make it and keep it as an upscale but friendly place, but still family oriented,” she said. The restaurant’s newest venture is into weekend brunch, which began in April. Throughout the summer, diners can enjoy the restaurant’s new brunch menu on weekends. To support the added service hours, the kitchen now has two full-time chefs. The Mediterranean dishes still remain the stars of the restaurant, however. According to Zand, the couscous dishes, such as the couscous with salmon curry ($26.95), is one of the restaurant’s most popular items. The heaping serving includes grilled brochettes of salmon in a mild, sweet madras curry sauce served with organic spinach, marinated red cabbage, boiled mango and dried apricot over couscous. Don’t let ‘curry’ in the name scare you away — the sauce has a low heat but is packed with flavor. Other popular traditional dishes include the mixed grill kabob ($24.95), a combination of beef, lamb and chicken brochettes charbroiled to order and served with grilled onion, tomato, green pepper and marinated red cabbage and rice pilaf, and kalaya ($19.95), which includes a choice of beef, lamb or chicken sauteed with onion, tomatoes, green peppers and mushrooms in a light red sauced, infused with herbs and seasoning, and served with ovenroasted potatoes, marinated red cabbage and rice pilaf. The kalaya is also available vegetarian for $16.95, part of the restaurant’s impressive vegetarian offerings. “[Vegetarians] can come every day of the month for lunch and dinner and still find something [they] haven’t had,” Zand said. While the main dishes are large and sure to make for leftovers, the cold and warm appetizers also shouldn’t be missed. The homemade hummus ($7.95) is made with pureed chickpeas, tahini and lemon juice topped with extra virgin olive oil and paprika, and served with warm pita bread. Also served with the warm pita is the baba ghannouj ($7.95), a smoked eggplant puree with tahini, lemon juice and olive oil. Both are available as half orders for $5.95, as well.
hplandmark.com real estate the highland park landmark | May 11, 2017 | 23 What: 6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 3 car garage Where: 2305 Hybernia Drive, Highland Park SPONSORED CONTENT The Highland Park Landmark’s of the WEEK Amenities: Grand 2-story foyer invites you into this majestic home with wooded nature preserve views from virtually every room! Enormous kitchen boasts eat-in area surrounded by windows. First floor includes library/ office with beautiful built in cabinetry, formal dining room, living room and mud/ laundry room with it’s own walk-in closet! 2nd floor boasts a gracious master suite with two walkin closets and an elegant master bath including whirlpool tub and double sized separate shower. Newly finished basement adds over 2100 sq. feet to include: rec. room and 2 additional bedrooms with jack and Jill full bath. This updated and impeccably maintained home is a great value- schedule a tour today! Price: $794,000 Listing Agent: Jane Pickus, @properties, (847) 217-1897, janepickus@atproperties.com and Linda R. Schwartz, @properties, (847) 702-7077, LindaRaeSchwartz@ atproperties.com Jan. 20 • 2020 Saint Johns Ave. 103, Highland Park, 60035-2426 — Ann Memering to Adam L Wolf, $138,500 • 2098 Saint Johns Ave., Highland Park, 60035- 2417 — Jacobs Venture I Llc to Nikkhil Gill, Paru B Gill $559,000 March 27 • 1821 Lawrence Lane, Highland Park, 60035-4326 — Phillip Gerber to Daniel J Harman, Lindsey A Harman $870,000 • 2066 Saint Johns Ave. 203, Highland Park, 60035-2407 — Terence Porter to Susan Wechsler Atkins, $230,000 • 3451 Krenn Ave., Highland Park, 60035-1261 — Reinberg Trust to Robert W Aaron, Suzanne S Aaron $392,500 • 391 Park Ave. 103, Highland Park, 60035-2664 — Chicago Title Land Trt Co Ttee to Brought to you by: FOR ALL YOUR MORTGAGE NEEDS 664 N. Western Ave., Lake Forest, IL 60045 Phone: (847) 234-8484 thefederalsavingsbank.com Halyna Trifonov, Igor Kushnerov $102,000 • 41 Ridge Road, Highland Park, 60035-4336 — Brian Newnum to Lenuta Ungureanu, $220,000 • 551 Sumac Road, Highland Park, 60035-4451 — Grandview Capital Llc to Christopher Albandia, Lisa Albandia $295,500 • 611 Ridge Road, Highland Park, 60035-4362 — Maurice Tal to Adam Silver, Lisa Silver $429,000 • 630 Onwentsia Ave., Highland Park, 60035-2030 — Alexander Babitsky to Maya Stratievsky, Boris Stratievsky $330,000 • 870 Woodbine Road, Highland Park, 60035-3734 — Dmitry Sandal to Charles P Comer, Pamela M Comer $670,000 March 28 • 1660 Midland Ave., Highland Park, 60035-2862 — Phillip M Maione to Rebecca Susan Young, $345,000 • 2883 Arlington Ave., Highland Park, 60035-1115 — Alan Meyerowitz to Bryan T Catalano Jr, Culey Catalano $600,000 • 664 Lyons Circle, Highland Park, 60035-3932 — F James Gerken to Karen Ross, $240,000 • 677 Broadview Ave., Highland Park, 60035-4834 — Charles Mckeag to Edgard Mata, $230,000 April 3 • 603 Melody Lane, Highland Park, 60035-5247 — Ben Wallach to Christopher Hintermeister, Kristin Hintermeister $72,500 The Going Rate is provided by Record Information Services, Inc. For more information, visit www. public-record.com or call (630) 557-1000.
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