Mac Grill sponsors Afghan culture night

Afghan Culture Night exposed new tastes to Bloomington’s residents Thursday night.

Owner Nasir Jallal provided a discounted buffet as well as samples of traditional Afghan tea during the event, which also featured traditional Afghan music.

Located in a squat, unassuming limestone building next to Mother Bear’s Pizza, the Mac Grill serves a wide variety of food, ranging from simple gyros and fries to babaganoush, a traditional Middle Eastern dish made of eggplant.

Customers were treated to warm cardamom tea, a traditional Afghan drink with a sweet, mellow flavor.

“It’s delicious. It’s different,” said Kristen McKeon, a graduate student studying music. “You can’t find anything like it in town.”

The buffet was fully decked out, featuring cardamom flavored pudding, salad, Afghan rice and chicken and potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce called korma.

Mixed vegetables, spinach and chicken with pasta were also available in tradition to hummus, a dip made from chickpeas.

A full menu featuring platters and other dishes, such as kabobs and babaganoush, was also made available.

The door was propped open and the stereo pumped Afghan music out into the Third Street air.

Around the restaurant, the Middle Eastern ambience is enforced through the presence of intricately woven oriental rugs. Waxed glass ornamental wine glasses are perched on a glass shelf, encrusted with impossibly complicated patterns engraved into the silver.

Hookahs and engraved silver cabinets sit around a low-set table, surrounded by cushions: all handmade.

Collins LLC Assistant Director Sarah Eaton attended, saying the Mac was a cross between the cultures.

“It’s very comfortable,” she said, noting the almost diner-like interior.

“I’m a vegetarian,” said Mariah Coley, a senior studying theater. “I was going to sacrifice and have to eat some chicken.”

Coley said she enjoyed the contrast of flavors.

“I like the spices,” she said. “American food is very bland – salty and nothing else.”

But the spices are only a part of it. The Mac Grill operates the only tandoor in the city. A tandoor is a cylindrical clay oven used for baking.

The Mac Grill uses it to bake flat bread, which is often used to plate the several meats the restaurant offers.

“I loved it,” sophomore Ashley Thomas said. “I really like the spices in ... everything.”
Jallal said the Mac Grill intends to make the culture night a yearly event.

“It’s a pretty good success,” Jallal said.