Thursday, September 13

I had one of the most memorable dinners of my life tonight.  Frank and I walked to a hard-to-find restaurant called Tiffany’s which was only about a 10-minute walk from our hotel.  It is on a hidden street and the restaurant is unmarked.  As we approached, we saw a few armed guards with a Humvee and lots of cars parked on the street.  The restaurant had a lovely garden area where we were seated, and as we settled in, a sweet small black and white dog appeared on a raised terrace which had a lawn and bushes right next to our table.  The dog was a mixture of Kona and Daisy – she had a sweet face and was thin like Daisy, but was colored black and white like Kona.  She would get up on her hind legs and waive her front paws occasionally as in begging, but never barked or made any sound.    The dog obviously felt at home at the restaurant and didn’t leave the terraced grassy area until we left and it walked to another grassy area in the restaurant.  It never tried to jump off the terrace and approach other tables on the patio.

We were told that the restaurant doesn’t have a menu – the chef gathers whatever is freshest at the local markets and creates for that day.   Dinner started with wonderful bread that was like pita but more risen and fluffy.  This was served with three types of cheese spread – somewhat like creamy feta with flavorings and also a ajvar (red pepper) sauce that was exquisite – it started out sweet in the mouth then finished with a pleasing burn.  Next we were presented with a scrumptious salad – the freshest I have ever had.  It had a few leaves of lettuce, chopped fresh beets, and mandolin-thin slices of carrot, onion, purple cabbage, and cucumber, and a little chopped parsley with a very light amount of oil and vinegar. Next, we shared two entrees – a veal and cheese casserole and grape leaves stuffed with beef.  The only other place that makes my taste buds react so happily is Rancho de Chimayo in New Mexico.  At both places, each bite brings a unique and delectable taste that makes one want to take time and enjoy a mixture of the flavors offered.  Along with the meal, we enjoyed a bottle of Cabernet that is from a winery just about 20 miles from Prizren.  It was very good, and we’re hoping to visit the winery sometime soon.  We ended the meal with macchiato coffees.  The coffee here is wonderful.  The cost of the entire meal minus the cost of the wine (15 Euros) was $30 – not much more than a dinner at a pho restaurant in Colorado.

The entire dinner, Frank and I marveled at the wonderful food we have had in Kosovo and the low price every time we have visited a café or restaurant