Karim Shamsi-Basha

New Jersey

Food and Culture Columnist at NJ Advance Media

Food and Culture Columnist at MosaicNJcom

Columnist. NJ Advance Media. 2021 Caldecott Honor - Cat Man of Aleppo. Represented by literary agent Wendy Goldman Rohm.

Articles

This N.J. Michelin-starred chef leans on his international family heritage

3 days ago | nj.com | Karim Shamsi-Basha

Located on Prospect Street in Waldwick, New Jersey, Charlie’s Place may seem like your typical sports bar, with big-screen televisions and clients enjoying their meal while watching the latest game. But Charlie’s Place is much more than a sports bar with a huge dining room in the back, and withMichelin-Starred Chef Joey Sergentakis, 41, whipping up dishes that rival fine-dining cuisine. Chef Sergentakis gives a lot of credit to his family heritage.
Affordable Eats: This N.J. Salad House will keep you healthy for less

1 week ago | nj.com | Karim Shamsi-Basha

Salad House founder Joey Cioffi grew up working at his father‘s deli in Springfield, Cioffi’s Deli. “My father came to the United States from Italy with $20 in his pocket and with the hopes of achieving the American Dream.” Joey Cioffi said. “As a kid, I can remember doing everything at our deli, from washing dishes, working the cash register, cooking food, and fulfilling large catering orders.
Seriously, Karim! I’ve been 60 for six days. Lord have mercy!!

1 week ago | nj.com | Karim Shamsi-Basha

Oh, the joys of being 60! I turned that golden age on May 2, and I had decided before my birthday that I would embrace my age. It’s not like I can do anything about stopping time. Come to think of it, you can, according to my father! He told me the secret to stopping time when I was 18 and raring to travel from Damascus, Syria, to the United States. He said that we can stop time when we commune with our loved ones and live this life moment by moment.
7 surprising discoveries at the New Jersey Food and Wine Festival

1 week ago | nj.com | Karim Shamsi-Basha

I’ve been to more food and wine festivals than I can count. Hey, I’m not complaining! These culinary extravaganzas are a haven for learning about and sampling scrumptious dishes and delectable wines. Last weekend at the New Jersey Food and Wine Festival at Crystal Springs Resort, I was pleasantly surprised with some unusual facts. The event featured some of the world’s finest chefs and winemakers.
Affordable Eats: This N.J. bakery heals the body and the mind

3 weeks ago | nj.com | Karim Shamsi-Basha

Lisa Siroti grew up in Brooklyn with a foodie mother who took her into all kinds of eateries at a young age. This passion for food translated into Siroti’s love for baked goods. Siroti is also a social worker, so she combined her two passions in 2010 and opened Papa Ganache, a bakery for vegan and gluten-free goodies, where children might feel safe enough to participate in therapy.
Seriously, Karim! Why the heck do we celebrate birthdays?

3 weeks ago | nj.com | Karim Shamsi-Basha

My birthday is coming up on May 2, and I will be 60! That’s right. The big Six-O!I’m not worried. I have held on to a maturity level of 12 to 14, so I’m good. I love to laugh, obviously, and I love making people laugh. Again, obviously. Speaking of birthdays, why do we celebrate them? And how did that ordeal start? You must admit, birthdays can be an ordeal for the parents. In Damascus, Syria, I remember Momma making a cake for my three siblings and me with as many layers as our age until we were 10.
Picky eaters rejoice: This children’s book offers solutions for food anxiety

3 weeks ago | nj.com | Karim Shamsi-Basha

When author Jennifer C. Kelly experienced first-hand her child’s anger issues, she decided to write a children’s book with Ryan, her 11-year-old boy. That book, “Fred Gets Frustrated,” ended up winning the prestigious Mom’s Choice Gold Award. “I wrote the first book,” Fred Gets Frustrated," based on my personal experience with my son’s frustrations," said Kelly, 49, of Cranford.
Killing of Jersey boy in the West Bank conjures up a jagged memory

3 weeks ago | nj.com | Karim Shamsi-Basha

Few events in life expel tears. Fewer still bring us to our knees. Then there are those handful of tragedies digging wounds that never heal. The West Bank shooting of 14-year-old Amer Mohammed Saada Rabee on April 6 caused one of those wounds in my heart to bleed again. On April 8, the boy’s father, Mohammed Rabee, spoke via Zoom at the Palestinian American Community Center in Clifton.
Affordable Eats: This N.J. gem brings you the best of Palestinian cuisine

4 weeks ago | nj.com | Karim Shamsi-Basha

There are a lot of Middle Eastern restaurants in New Jersey, and I’ve been to many that serve authentic foods from that decadent part of the world. But in Little Falls, New Jersey, a humble Palestinian eatery is living up to its astounding reputation. Welcome to The Olive Bistro, where the vibe is comfortable, the staff is friendly, and the food is almost as good as my mother’s! I know. A huge statement, but it’s true.
Affordable Eats: Enjoy delicious Indian food at this spicey N.J. restaurant

1 month ago | nj.com | Karim Shamsi-Basha

I love Indian cuisine, and New Jersey has a large Indian population with almost half a million residents. In Edison alone, 28% of people identify as Indian. So there are plenty of decadent spots to feast on exotic and, at times, purely wild cuisine. I do have one issue with the widely popular food in the United States and all over the world, for that matter. Indian food can be spicy. And when I say spicy, I’m talking cheeks turning red, tongue on fire, sweat pouring out - kind of spicey.