South Grand boasts the widest selection of ethnic restaurants in town. Enter one more, Baida, which will focus on Moroccan fare. Owner Abder Meskine plans to open Baida at the end of August at 3191 S. Grand Blvd., in the space most recently occupied by short-lived Orkeed.
Baida will offer both classic and contemporary takes on Moroccan cuisine, according to Meskine. “We’ll have traditional dishes like tajine and couscous, but at the same time, we are going to try to have modern Moroccan cuisine.” For Meskine, “modern” translates to a more minimal use of oil and taking advantage of access to a variety of vegetables, not just those typically found in Morocco. Diners will find numerous options among various tajine and couscous dishes, whether prepared with lamb, veal, chicken or as a vegetarian entree. Couscous also will be available as a savory course with vegetables, or as a sweeter grain dish when prepared with raisins and onions. Meskine hopes to offer pastilla, a type of Moroccan meat pie, in the future. Recipes will hail from Meskine’s wife Assia Zahi, who is developing the menu.
Baida, which means “white” in Arabic, is currently in the midst of renovation. When doors are unlocked – Aug. 30 is the target date – the 70-seat restaurant and bar will offer a buffet at lunch and a la carte dinner.
This article appears in July 2013.