 | We all eat far more adventurously than past generations, but one of the treats of travelling to Tunisia is the opportunity to savour some delicious local dishes, cooked in an authentic manner, without pandering to European tastebuds. Even couscous can taste so much better here than in front of the TV at home! Tunisian fare is commonly a stew of meat and/or vegetables poured over fine couscous grains. Tajines are the traditional fare of the Berbers and consist of thick omelettes with spinach, meat or chicken added to the pan. Spices add to the taste and the aroma and are a particularly Arabic or eastern influence, and olives, nuts and local fruits in season are all used in the preparation of local dishes. Tunisia also maintains the tradition of finishing a meal with sticky flaky pastries oozing with honey, or their staple pistachio ice cream. |
Restaurants catering for tourists tend to offer French-style cuisine, but Dar el Jeld near the Place du Gouvernment in Tunis serves authentic Tunisian specialties. Roadside rotisseries are another great place to try new dishes. Look for a busy trader and you will be served fresh hot food such as kebabs, spicy chicken, fried potatoes and a mixed salad for a few dinars. Chorba is a thick and hearty soup which makes a great lunch, or try the spicy Merguez sausages but exercise caution with the Harysa which may be served on the side. This is a very fiery pepper condiment! Enjoy the tabouna flatbreads and the Brik a l’oeuf which is a simple and delicious deep fried pastry holding an egg, cumin, coriander and potato – it is quite delicious. Late night fast food stalls serve some great hot dishes such as French bread filled with spicy sausage and a local salad. It is hard to find anything not to like about Tunisian food! One final note is that Tunisia is a Muslim country and Ramadan is a time of fasting. However, don’t panic! At sunset the feast begins and often food markets and street vendors do a roaring trade. Many hotel restaurants in the tourist areas serve food throughout the day too so you will not starve, although alcohol may not be served as widely as at other times. Wherever you are, enjoy supporting the local economy and know that you can dine out extremely well for a fraction of the cost of restaurant food in Europe. Tips are particularly important in this industry, so leave the customary 10% even in small cafés. |
