Food & Beer
LET'S EAT!
By Dan Greenwood
SOUTHERN MN STYLE “My main focus is the lamb biriyani," says Shawarmania owner Ahmed Kiblawi, "because it sells more and it’s universal, from South Asian to Middle Eastern.”
A taste like home Shawarmania offers mediterranean fare Photos by Pat Christman
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efore Ahmed Kiblawi opened Shawarmania Mediterranean Grill in Mankato in 2019, he and chef Anwar Taha traveled to cities around the country known for their large Middle Eastern and South Asian diasporas. “It was basically finding what was out there in the market,” Kiblawi said. “Chicago and Detroit are popular places to visit when it comes to Middle Eastern, Persian and Indian food. For us it was trying the best places and then have an idea of what we should do here.” With the restaurant near the multicultural campus of
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Minnesota State University, Kiblawi’s goal is for his dishes to taste like home. For Kiblawi, who is Palestinian, the taste of home is the United Arab Emirates, where he grew up before moving to Minnesota to attend college at MSU. Along with recognizable Middle Eastern fare such as gyros, falafel and hummus, Shawarmania’s menu gives a nod to the cuisine that has shaped recipes in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the country. He said it’s common to have neighbors in the same apartment building who hail from Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Egypt. And the recipes of those
countries have infused themselves with local influences. “Because the UAE is multicultural, you see people from everywhere,” Kiblawi said. Shawarmania’s lamb biriyani draws influences from Pakistan and India, although the dish is found in various forms throughout the Middle East as well, with its own styles influenced by different regions. “My main focus is the lamb biriyani because it sells more and it’s universal, from South Asian to Middle Eastern.” The lamb biriyani requires a great deal of preparation and nuance, and it includes some rare
