Marie Corps Air Station New River, N.C. -- War has been a source of discovering new food for thousands of years.
During the Crusades of the 11th through the 13th centuries, crusaders from Europe brought back a host of spices they discovered in the Middle East. Before that, Romans and Greeks helped popularize wine and garlic to the many areas they conquered and settled.
American service members who were deployed to Afghanistan had the opportunity to try unique Afghan cuisine.
“When Marines went to Afghanistan, they tried our delicious food,” said Mohammad Basir Maseri, owner of Naan and Kabob Afganistan Cuisine in Jacksonville, N.C. and native of Afghanistan. “When they came back home, they wanted to keep eating all the food they had over there.”
This is why Maseri decided to open an Afghan restaurant April 2.
“I love U.S. Marines,” said Maseri. “They are wonderful, polite people and they aren’t afraid to try something different. I think in some other town, with (fewer) veterans in it, my restaurant wouldn’t do nearly as well.”
Maseri has worked with U.S. service members since the American involvement with Afghanistan started in 2001, where he served as a local national interpreter for the U.S. military.
He later moved to the United States to work as a language and cultural instructor. Currently he works as a cultural instructor at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.
“I work with Marines every day, teaching them about Afghanistan customs and culture,” said Maseri. “I have fun with the Marines; they’re good people. In fact, it was when some Marines and I were talking that I realized how much some Marines wanted the food they had in Afghanistan.”
According to Maseri, one of the most sought-after delicacies from Afghanistan is a type of flatbread called naan.
“Marines who liked naan in Afghanistan come here and see us making it the exact same way, in the same kind of oven,” said Maseri.
Kabobs, the various meats they serve at Naan and Kabob, are also seasoned according to traditional Afghan recipes.
“We try to give the Marines the exact same type of food they got when they were in Afghanistan,” said Maseri.
Naan and Kabob is the first restaurant in North Carolina to specialize in Afghanistan cuisine, and they have no plans of leaving.
“I love being a part of this community,” said Maseri. “I think I’m falling in love with Jacksonville.”