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Nov. 6: A rare taste of Uyghur cuisine in Philly
"The most subtle aspect of the cuisine is that on paper, it's fairly simple, but when it's in your mouth, it's pure genius," says Rodgers.
Nov. 6: A rare taste of Uyghur cuisine in Philly
When people think of Patrick Rodgers, they think of the shows and records he's produced and released under the Dancing Ferret and Digital Ferret banners, or as one of the gun toters in Kyle Cassidy's Armed America, or maybe as the homeowner who foreclosed on Wells Fargo and made national news. Yet here he is, uniting with Paul Brown at National Mechanics (22 S. Third St.) and Uyghurian master chef Ahmet Mamut (pictured) to create a one-night event celebrating food from China's Xinjiang Province.
Uyghurs are a Chinese ethnic minority descended from Turkic peoples, their land sharing borders with Russia, Mongolia, Pakistan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Their language, culture and history is distinct from their Chinese counterparts. In August 2010, Rodgers was on vacation in North Korea, and before flying home decided he'd visit Beijing. "Before that trip, I learned about the Uyghur people and was determined to sample their food," he says. "There was a lovely little Uyghur place [in Beijing] called Xinjiang Crescent Moon." He was floored by the meal, stick-to-the-ribs cooking that incorporated multiple culinary influences. "The most subtle aspect of the cuisine is that on paper, it's fairly simple, but when it's in your mouth, it's pure genius," says Rodgers.
When Rodgers returned home he immediately began researching ways to recreate the meal as an event in the States, with little luck — there are only two restaurants in the country serving Uyghur food. Working with the D.C.-based Uyghur American Association, which was supportive of Rodgers' idea, he got in contact with Mamut, who'd previously headed restaurants in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and currently resides in Phoenix. The subsequent National Mechanics-hosted dinner, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 6, will mark Mamut's first trip to Philly — he's never met Rodgers or Brown in person.
Included will be well-known staples of Uyghur cuisine, such as lagman (long noodles topped with vegetables and beef or lamb), gul tavak (a meat/vegetable salad arranged to look like a flower), polo (a rice dish served at weddings, funerals or for honored guests) and parmudin, a lamb bun dish that Rodgers enjoyed in Beijing. The $35 dinner will comprise four courses (four options per course), with choices for vegan and halal diners; two courses of traditional Uyghur bread are included, too. Full menu below (click to enlarge). To reserve space (there are 6 and 8 p.m. seatings), call 215-861-0313 or visit dancingferret.com/uaa.
Nobody else has commented about the fact that Patrick Rodgers went to NORTH KOREA for vacation?— johne118- What a fantastic evening! I can not stop thinking about that beautiful rice soup! Congratulations all who made this such a memorable event.— aces76
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