According to a recent article from HP Herald, Mahari will soon debut in Hyde Park at 1504 E 55th Street.
A representative of Mahari was not immediately available to comment upon What Now Chicago’s request.
According to the article, “Mahari, a new fusion eatery by Hyde Park-born chef Rahim Muhammad, is bringing cuisines from across the African diaspora to the Hyde Park Shopping Center in August.”
“Hailing from a long line of chefs, Muhammad said Mahari is the amalgamation of his familial roots in the Dominican Republic and Louisiana, and his time spent exploring the Caribbean and the American South. Born at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, he traveled often to his grandmother’s house near New Orleans.”
“Her home, nestled in a large network of levees for the Mississippi River, was teeming with life – the front yard had avocado, fig and plum trees, and it was a meeting place for the extended family. He added that the warm, moist climate of Louisiana meant that crops grew in abundance in his grandmother’s community, imbuing people with a strong value for fresh food.”
“He’s still finalizing the menu, but several preview events he’s hosted around the city can give a taste of what’s to come: dishes like bacalaitos, Puerto Rican cod fritters with mango chutney; sweet plantain french toast and Moroccan couscous with suya smoked and grilled lamb.”
“For drinks, Muhammad paired the menu with cocktails like the “Mahari-ta,” a ginger liqueur, mango puree and citrus mix, and the “Sorel Sling,” made with Moroccan hibiscus blended with Brazilian clove, Indonesian cassia and Nigerian ginger.”
