Tucked away just off of 4th Avenue is an exotic oasis, a gypsy tent offering a respite from the hustle of the street, a brief escape to a land of tribal rhythms, hypnotic dancing girls, spicy curries and Middle Eastern delights, Chai tea and Turkish coffee. You won't need a plane ticket or lots of moolah to get there. Surprisingly close and affordable, you need only enter this secret world through the magic entrance (between a clothing store and a hair salon). Come, my friend, take a trip with me to the Casbah.The Casbah Tea House had its beginnings several years ago as a traveling "gypsy caravan," setting up a large Arabian style tent at Rainbow Gatherings, Solstice Celebrations, and other events and festivals. The founders, Carol Ann Krueger and Wild Bill From Over the Hill, offered festival goers a bounty of fresh tasty foods in the truest sense of "gypsy spirit." And they've been keeping the gypsy spirit alive on 4th Avenue since Feb. of '96 (though they continue to travel the festival route in California and Oregon during the summer months).
Carol Ann learned the art of vegetarian cooking for large groups of people at The Farm, Stephen Gaskin's spiritual commune, in the '70s, and she obviously learned her lessons well. The food is excellent and the menu is varied and plentiful. Everything is fresh and almost everything is organic. Carol Ann makes the circuit each morning gathering the freshest ingredients available from the 17th Street Farmers Market, Tucson Cooperative Warehouse, The Food Conspiracy Co-op and other local markets. The Casbah is very supportive of local businesses (Harlekin Gardens, Grass Roots, Small Planet Bakery, among others) and the Tucson community.
The menu is quite impressive indeed and far too large to review each dish, but let me recommend a few choices. As would be expected, a Middle Eastern Plate offers organic homemade hummus and tabouli, dolmas (stuffed grape leaves), salad with Greek olives and feta and pita bread. A specialty of the Casbah is Gypsy Stew, a deliciously thick red lentil, coconut and vegetable curry served over brown or white basmati rice. I recently enjoyed the Shepherd's Pie, made with mashed potatoes, peas, corn and seasoned tofu, covered with homemade cashew gravy (if you're only familiar with meat-based gravies you'll be very pleasantly pleased with the flavor and texture of vegetarian gravy). I've also enjoyed the Tempeh Salad Pita, a vegetarian version of chicken salad served in a whole wheat pita with a good mix of salad veggies and sprouts. Also available are Black Beans and Rice, Tofu Spinach Pie, a Salami and Cheese Melt (made with vegetarian salami) and a Casbah Cheese Steak (made with seitan, a delicious meat alternative made from wheat). Most of the dishes are available A La Carte or, if you prefer, you can order it as a Plate, with (depending on the dish) rice, pita bread or your choice of garden salad, pasta salad or potato salad. Sandwiches also come with a pickle and corn chips. Veggie burgers and dogs, homemade soups, a variety of salads and side dishes (rice, black beans, seitan, dolmas, tabouli and much more) provide more than enough options to satisfy the pickiest diner.
There is also an extensive beverage and smoothie menu featuring everything from fresh juices, natural sodas, and a large variety of teas, coffees and cappucinos (herbal and regular, non-dairy milk is available also) to cool, refreshing smoothies, made with fresh and frozen organic fruit.
I urge you to visit the Casbah for the quality of the food, of course, but for a real treat try to visit when live entertainment is offered (and that's almost every evening). Poetry readings are every Tuesday from 7:30-9:30, open-mike night is Mondays from 8-10, and almost all other evenings are booked with belly dancers (a wonderful show for everyone) or music spanning the gamut from reggae to Celtic to classical to folk to acoustic blues to world beat to, well, you name it.
I recently asked Carol Ann what her vision is for the Casbah and she painted a mental picture for me of a place "fully utilized by the community, supporting and encouraging others in diversity." A wonderful vision to support and all you need do is enjoy good food, good music and a community of friends.
The Casbah Tea House is located at 628 N. 4th Avenue (behind The Creative Spirit Gallery) and opens at 11:00 am daily. Call 740-0393 for information on entertainment. You can email them at casbahteahouse@hotmail.com
Robert Oser is a local chef, teacher and author of "Flavors of the Southwest" and an upcoming vegetarian chili cookbook. He currently works at the Food Conspiracy Co-op.