[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 35 (Thursday, March 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE AFGHAN AMERICAN CUISINE OF FREMONT, CALIFORNIA

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 18, 2004

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to submit to the Congressional 
Record an article that appears in the current issue of VIA Magazine, 
celebrating the culinary contributions of several Afghan American 
restaurateurs in my city of Fremont, California.
  These establishments deserve praise, not only for satisfying many 
appetites with delectable food, but for enriching our community with 
their enterprise and important cultural gifts that make Fremont a 
better place to live.
  I am honored to represent the largest Afghan American community in 
the nation and gladly invite my colleagues to come to California to 
enjoy, as the author of this article exclaims, ``some of the best 
Afghan food and goods this side of Kabul.'' I couldn't agree more 
myself.

                  [From VIA Magazine, Mar.-Apr. 2004]

   Little Afghanistan: Discover the Flavors of Kabul in the Bay Area

                          (By April Thompson)

       Handmade Afghan ravioli and rugs in sleepy, suburban 
     Fremont? The Northern California city is home to the nation's 
     largest Afghan American community and some of the best Afghan 
     food and goods this side of Kabul. Afghanistan's cuisine has 
     been influenced by Russia, India, China, and Persia, and its 
     dishes star the rich, sweet, and tart tastes of cardamom, 
     cilantro, rose water, and homemade yogurt.
       The storefronts on Fremont Boulevard may look plain, but 
     inside their shelves are stocked with pomegranate juice, 
     sugared chickpeas, apple tobacco, and other goods imported 
     from Bombay, Cairo, and numerous points between.
       At the Pamir Food Mart, you can buy long loaves of Afghan 
     naan warm from the oven. Bring a hearty appetite and sense of 
     adventure to Salang Pass, one of four Afghan restaurants on 
     the boulevard. Don't miss gabili pilau, Afghanistan's 
     national dish of baked brown rice with lamb and raisins; 
     aushak, ravioli stuffed with leeks and spices; or the burani 
     kadu, soft pumpkin sauteed with garlic and cardamom. Across 
     the street, carnivores should check out the De Afghanan Kabob 
     House, where every plate features skewered meat.

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