The Connection Bridgewater-Somerville Edition Sept/Oct/Nov 2018

Dining Out PAGE 44 www.theconnectionsnj.com * In-Store Only Somerville Location Only BSC 10% * OFF YOUR ORDER WWW.THESALADHOUSE.COM THESALADHOUSEOFSOMERVILLE $THESALADHOUSE 58West Main Street, Somerville, NJ 08876 WE DELIVER! ORDER ONLINE! Catering Available 150 Adamsville Road North, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 908-393-5000 www.bridgewaterbakerynj.com Hours: Monday 10am-6pm, Tuesday-Saturday 9am-7pm, Sunday 10am-4p C USTOM M ADE P ARTY F AVORS E UROPEAN B READS & P ASTRIES S PECIAL O CCASION C AKES H AND D ECORATED C AKES & C OOKIES All baked here at our bakery Calling all Chefs! Visit our website, theconnectionsnj.com Click on the Recipe Tab to submit your Favorite Recipe. Don’t forget the name of the recipe, ingredients, cooking directions and number of servings. Please include your name, telephone number and email address. Bon Appetit! Make a Recipe Connection with our NEW ONLINE RECIPE BOOK! KING TUT RESTAURANT By: Katrina Musto You don’t need to book a plane ticket to Cairo to experience authen- tic middle-eastern cuisine. Kal Nasr, owner of King Tut Restaurant in Lebanon, has opened a second loca- tion in downtown Somerville. Deco- rated with ancient décor from Egypt, the eatery has an extensive menu and features rotating weekend entertainment, which includes belly dancers, a Motown-cover band, and a Frank Sinatra impersonator. “Every- one wants to see something differ- ent!” Nasr said. It was thirty-one years ago that Nasr came to this country and his interest in the food industry has only peaked. He had an accounting back- ground, yet his desire to work with different types of cuisine tugged at his heartstrings. “I initially worked in Italian and French restaurants but always wanted to get into cooking my own heritage’s food,” he said. Coming from restaurants such as Nonna’s in Raritan and Il Pomodoro Ristorante in Somerville, he found this hidden gem in downtown Somerville and was eager to remodel and call it his own. His popular loca- tion in Hunterdon County opened 5.5 years ago and people have begun to enjoy Egyptian food even more, so his second location aims to introduce itself also. Not only passionate about his roots but also how he runs his loca- tions is important, and therefore, Nasr chooses his staff wisely. Omar Aly, Executive Chef, not only hap- pens to be Egyptian but is the previ- ous owner of La Scala, and Ahmed Said is the Operating Manager who formerly managed Il Pomodoro. Both establishments happened to be in Somerville so all three men have quite a history in the Somerville food industry with talent in various cuisines which is now under the umbrella of King Tut. “There is 100 years of experience between all three of us,” Nasr mentioned. King Tut focuses on cooking most items healthfully, which happens to include using a clay dish. Popular dishes include seafood sprinkled with fresh herbs and lemon, served with rice and vegetables; roasted duck with figs in a demi glaze; and of course, staple appetizers such as Tabouleh salad and Baba Ghanoush. Daily specials often include fresh seafood and the homemade naan bread is served as you ponder the menu, so be sure to leave room for dessert. Mahalabia consists of fresh vanilla custard topped with pista- chios and Basbousa is a “lighter ver- sion of cream brulee made with milk instead of heavy cream,” Nasr said, calling it “light and refreshing.” And of course, there is Baklava but unlike the Greek version, this one is not quite as sweet but still savory. A BYOB establishment, King Tut is open weekdays for lunch and din- ner but just dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Catering requests are a hot commodity as is the ability to rent the restaurant out for a private party. “People always have baked ziti at parties so we tend to cater a healthi- er option for those who want to switch it up, with grilled kebabs, hummus, and grapes leaves,” Nasr said. Looks like it’s time to pay a visit to their new location in Somerset County. 1271 Route 22 East Lebanon, NJ 908-840-4668 New Location: 6 West Main Street (across from Well Fargo Bank) Somerville, NJ 908-722-1360 Walk Like An Egyptian, Right Into King Tut Ahmed & Kal