Maza Kabob

I sat in the coffee house surrounded by soft colors and gentle lighting, listening to her quietly talk about a networking group. We had never met before, but were inspired to meet because of an editorial essay I published. She had reached out for a meeting. Here, we found ourselves deep in meaningful conversation.

She relayed a question that was posed to the networking group – “If you had one month, one week, one day left on this Earth, what would you do? What’s on your bucket list?” Although the question was just part of our conversation and wasn’t exactly directed towards me, I immediately started thinking about it. If I knowingly only had a short amount of time to live, I don’t think I’d run out there and experience as much as I possibly could; I would sit down and write my memoir for my kids.

Thinking about that question made me realize that I’m living what I love – the life of a writer. It may not be a profession that pays well, and I may never reach the heights of the world’s most influential and poetic writers. I may be an incredibly average writer with an endless supply of underwhelming work, but it’s still what I love doing with my time here on Earth.

Writing and cooking are so very similar in this regard. Cooking is a way to communicate and share a part of yourself with the world. Many chefs and restauranteurs will never reach a pinnacle in their career that reflects the successes of other world renowned chefs – but they still cook because it’s what they love doing with their time while they are still alive. This is true for anyone who loves cooking, but seems to be particularly true for the Sayied family at Maza Kabob.

Maza Kabob opened on September 9, 2011 as Fort Collins’ first Afghani restaurant, replacing the forgotten and failed Bamba Ritos. Practically hidden in a corner by Inca Mexican Restaurant and K-Mart, this family-owned restaurant exposes us to new tastes and exemplifies the American dream. The life story of owner Sayed Sayied proves that he truly loves living his life through sharing food with others. With a treacherous history of escaping Kabul, Afghanistan, the trials and tribulations that he and his family went through to get to the United States – a past seemed filled with narrow escapes from death – their ultimate success here in Fort Collins is lived through cooking food. It’s inspiring, to say the least. If you’d like to read the full details in all their glory, you should read the piece in the Denver Post that Kristen Browning-Blas wrote a couple of weeks ago. I was moved.

This is one of those restaurants that is so good, my inbox exploded with feedback from readers, urging me to go for the review. After a few months, I was finally able to make it last week, and I was not disappointed. I completely understood what the fuss was about.

The menu is a bit difficult to read, unless you are familiar with Afghan cuisine. One menu is labeled with dishes, and another updated menu is labeled with ingredients. Between the two, you should be able to find something to fit your tastes in no time. It’s even better if you study the menu online beforehand.

On my first visit, I ordered the beef wrap combo – grilled beef, potatoes, white rice, yogurt sauce, Afghan salad, all wrapped in Chapatti. It came with a side of rice topped with potato korma.

This was probably the most American-friendly dish on the menu, since it was as recognizable as a burrito. The grilled beef had the consistency of hamburger, the Afghan salad was similar to pico de gallo, and the Chapatti was like a thin tortilla. It was delicious. The flavor profiles were similar, yet ever so slightly different, making it a burrito unlike any other you’ve had before.

The potato korma was sweet and zesty. It reminded me of the roasted potatoes at Taverna Grill. The rice was long-grain and spotted with sauteed leafy greens. I also ordered the Sheer Birinj – rice pudding. It was a thick soft consistency with a strong cardamom taste. I soon discovered that Afghan cuisine was a medley of slow-roasted flavors with pops of cardamom to make it distinguishable.

On another visit, I ordered the Burrani – baked eggplant with white rice, a piece of naan, Afghan salad, and yogurt salad.

The rich, creamy, low-baked flavors were incredible. The soft eggplant wasn’t particularly filling on it’s own, but add the rice and naan, and I was set for the rest of the night and into the next day. It was stick-to-your-ribs comfort food, and I loved it.

Friends who joined me ordered both chicken and beef kabobs, and even Zhalla – Afghan ice cream. It was vanilla ice cream topped with rice noodles, crushed pistachios and cardamom, milk and a special sweetener. They said it tasted like a milkshake at the bottom. Everyone was thrilled with their meal, even an acquaintance who ironically was visiting from Afghanistan.

I think when it comes to how we spend our time here on Earth, it doesn’t matter what we do, just as long as we really love doing it. Maza Kabob has been a process of 17 years of cooking, and it shows in their wonderful comforting flavors. It’s inspiration enough for me to keep living the life I love.

 

Maza Kabob
2427 South College Avenue
(970) 484-6292
www.mazakabob.com

Kid-Friendly? Yes! They have a great kids’ menu, and I overheard a particular picky eater proud of eating his entire dinner – and asking for more.

Parking: Parking lot

Healthy Options? Many low-cal, vegetarian, and vegan options.

Budget-Friendly? Average pricing. Most meals are around $10.

Recent Health Inspection: Good