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Meet Our Flavour Team
Slata Mechouia
The smoky smell of vegetables slowly roasting over a grill as our cousins hunch over on stools, and fan the flames patiently...the sound of embers popping and crackling underneath. After the vegetables cool, the skins are peeled to reveal tender, juicy delights ready to be drizzled in olive oil. Nothing symbolizes summer in Tunisia more than slata mechouia.
Harissa​
Dried chillies are first ground then seasoned with caraway, salt and minced fresh garlic to obtain the Arabic Harissa which is an absolute authentic grandma’s recipe. It is a crucial element in every North African kitchen cupboard. It is usually added to all of these countries’ main savoury dishes and famous recipes. This nicely homemade traditional hot paste full of delightful flavours is fundamental to spice up your soups and sauces.
Merguez
A spicy sausage that originated in North Africa and the Middle East, and is traditionally made from lamb or mutton, we make ours from lamb and beef. It's typically long and thin, and is often seasoned with harissa and toasted cumin. We`ll put our own spin on it and serve it up in the shape of meatballs.
Ftayer
One of the tastiest traditional Tunisian street foods is delicious, deep-fried bread, made from leavened dough, in our case, with added sourdough. It can be enjoyed on its own or with various toppings. This fried bread is also widely known and very popular in Central and Eastern Europe, where it is called "Langosh".
Tunisian Fricassé
One of the ways to truly understand what Tunisian flavours are all about is to give a HUGE bite into a great Tunisian fricassé roll. These traditional Tunisian rolls are made from leavened dough, again in our case, added sourdough, and if you don’t think this is comforting enough, they are also deep-fried!!! Fricassés are usually stuffed with tuna, olives, harissa, potatoes…. In other words, a combo of flavours that is pure Tunisian goodness.
Bambalouni
You can smell it walking down the street in Sidi Bou Said, La Marsa, or any medina of Tunisia. The bambalouni is a fried circle of dough, like an empty shell of a donut, covered in sugar. When it is warm and fresh out of the fryer, it is spectacular.
The "Spice Souk"
The true essence of Mediterranean and Arabic cuisine lies in its vibrant and aromatic spices. From the sun-drenched coasts of the Mediterranean to the bustling markets of the Middle East, we celebrate the warmth of coriander with its bright, citrusy notes, the earthy embrace of cumin, and the sweet, vibrant hues of paprika. You'll also discover the comforting depth of cinnamon, a staple in both savoury and sweet dishesThese cherished spices, nurtured through generations, are the secret behind our authentic tastes, meticulously balanced to create the rich, complex, and utterly irresistible flavours you've come to love from Via della Vita.
Each spice tells a story, a whisper of ancient traditions and sun-kissed lands. They are the backbone of our authentic recipes, transforming simple ingredients into extraordinary flavour journeys.
Meet 'Libera': The Heart of Our Sourdough
Allow us to introduce you to Libera, the lively soul of our sourdough at viadellavita.uk! We carefully nurtured her from humble beginnings in October 2022, and she's been bubbling with personality ever since.
Libera is the very heart of our sourdough's magic – responsible for its distinctive tang, its incredible aroma, and that perfectly airy, chewy crumb. She represents our dedication to crafting authentic, naturally leavened bread, nurtured with care and patience. When you taste our sourdough, you're tasting the vitality and history of Libera, baked fresh just for you.
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"Our Story, Our Hands, Our Legacy"
So we`ve introduced you to our "flavour heroes"...
These incredible ingredients and time-honored recipes are the very building blocks of viadellavita.uk. And who brings them all together? That would be us, Hatem and Lydia, with a combined hospitality experience of more than 40 years — from kitchen creations to front-of-house excellence.
But our journey didn't start with us alone. It's deeply rooted in the kitchens of our families, whose traditions, cherished recipes, and unwavering love for food instilled in us the passion we now share with you. Every dish is a tribute to their legacy, crafted with the same care and dedication they taught us.
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