Sammoon-another visit

Sammoon has closed.

This is mmm-yoso!!!  It's a food blog.  Kirk is still adjusting to the time zone and not blogging. ed (from Yuma) is adjusting to not having to be at work early each day and is not blogging.  Cathy appears to be adjusted and this is a short blog post. 

It does seem that my blog posts are about return visits to a bunch of places.  This is because when The Mister and I go to eat out, we like to patronize local businesses close to home which are relatively inexpensive and serve really good food.  When I first posted about Sammoon, it was after only a few visits. The business is run by recent Iraqi immigrants who make really good food and Sammoon is part of our "regular rotation". 

Sammoon is located within walking distance from the El Cajon Courthouse as well as the new El Cajon Police Headquarters and ends up being quite crowded around lunchtime on days when court is in session. However, on Fridays and weekends, business is steadier without the 'rush' and that's when we like to go out for lunch. The owner, takes great pride in putting out a good product and there is a wait for most food orders, because items are prepared fresh. 

The oven over there along the wall is where the Sammoon bread and all the sweets are made, daily. You can see the two rotating upright spits of schawarma (beef and chicken) along the other wall. Sammoon bread is shaped in its unique way and is a heartier type of bread, almost the texture of Ciabatta. 

The oven is also where this wonderous cheese bread is made.  Listed on the wall menu by the cash register, this is only $1.  You can see how much cheese is on the fresh baked bread by looking at the cross section with a bite taken out…Fresh baked bread, still hot.  The cheese, mixed with parsley does not melt much, but browns. It is firmer than Mozzarella and it has a good flavor- like Feta in texture, but less salty.  We've never asked what kind, just ordered.   

This is the chicken schawarma salad ($7.99).  Yes, it is large.  There is lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, onion and Feta and a nice oil and vinegar dressing on the side to pour over all of that freshly cooked thinly sliced chicken.  The salads are served with fresh Sammoon bread.

Here is a better photo of the Sammoon bread with my blackened salmon salad ($8.99). The salmon is rubbed in Za'atr- a mix of finely ground oregano and sesame seeds and the flavor is amazing.  This is not as much protein as on the chicken salad, but just as satisfying.

Anyhow, glad I could share another meal.  Hope everyone is having a good week.

Sammoon 190 Magnolia Avenue, Suite 103 El Cajon 92020 (619) 441-2823 Open 10-10 Sun-Thurs and 10-midnight on Friday & Saturday