Comme Ci, Comme Ça Truck is a Moroccan Winner
Even though the Comme Ci, Comme Ca Truck isn’t out today we couldn’t help but post this… it’s just too good, and we couldn’t wait to tell you about it. Hopefully they’ll be back soon!
Last week Lunch’er “David” tipped us off to Comme Ci Comme Ça (Like This Like That, in French), a brand new Mediterranean truck on the street meat scene now parking on 54th St at Lexington. At the helm is Chef Samir, who was born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco, and has created an authentic menu inspired by the dishes he grew up on (from their merguez sandwich to their chicken cous cous). All you have to do is look at the caricature of Chef Samir on the truck to know what you’re in for. He’s holding a chicken on his left, while hungrily eyeing up a scrumptious lamb on his right- and along with sous-chef Zac, they’ve been doing brisk business since they started in early July. Needless to say, this Midtown Luncher couldn’t wait to try it!
The merguez sandwich has been selling out within the first hour of the lunchtime rush and I missed out on my visit, but the Moroccan Kofta Brochette made for an excellent replacement. While I waited for my meal I saw them preparing the Mogador Burger (beef patty, sautéed mushrooms, eggplant spread, and veggies) for the guy in front of me. It was an enormous burger and for only $5 I will no doubt try this on my return trip.
My brochette was pretty big and packed with meat. The kofta was well spiced and perfectly charred on the outside (I love my carcinogens!), but still succulent and pink in the center. It usually comes with caramelized onions, green olives and green peppers, but I wanted to try the other grilled veggies and Samir gladly added roasted eggplant, zucchini, and red bell to the mix for no charge.
The bread is fresh from Parisi Bros. Bakery (30-17 Broadway, Astoria). The heart of the baguette is chewy and absorbs all the glistening juices from the beef kofta. The zucchini had lovely grill marks and the red bell pepper and eggplant added sweetness and texture. The sandwich alone is enough for one ravenous luncher, but I couldn’t leave without trying one more thing: their Moroccan cigars!
The chicken cigar was straight out of the fryer and sizzling hot. The pastilla sheets (layers of phyllo dough) come out uber crispy and browned. Inside were shredded chicken, toasted almonds and seasonings like cinnamon, rose water and a spice I could not pinpoint but seemed like saffron or some sort of yellow spice. I ripped one open so you can get a good look.
The pair came under a salad of mixed baby greens with Samir’s version of creamy white sauce and a tangy hot sauce. The hot sauce wasn’t spicy at all but still delicious and when mixed with the white it tasted slightly like Russian dressing.
Samir makes the sauces himself and sadly he underestimates their amazing ability to bump up the flavor of all his dishes. I wish I would have asked for some on my sandwich. Lesson learned, make sure to request some with you meal, it enhances the flavor and zest to all the cuisine. Even on the cigars, I was left wanting a little more of the hot sauce to dip in each bite.
Finally, it was all washed down with a mango iced tea. Cold, crisp and without any tannin aftertaste there was no need for any sugar, it was perfect just as is. I can safely say that Comme Ci, Comme Ça is definitely a winner and a welcome addition of the area. (And I look forward to checking out the rest of the menu…)
THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)
- Value and authenticity in every bite
- I love deep fried food and those cigars hit the spot
- Refreshing teas
- Vegetarian options like fire roasted veggies and caprese sandwiches
The – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)
- No lamb platters
- Head out early or items like the merguez will be all gone
- I wish they had a really spicy hot sauce
Comme Ci, Comme Ça Truck, 54th Street at Lexington
Posted by Mamacita at 12:00 pm, July 19th, 2010 under Comme Ci Comme Ca Truck.
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16 Comments
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i had one of the beef sandwiches last week and thought the meat was tough and not so flavorful. Another negative, I thought they were pretty slow…I think I waited at least 5-7 min after the order was placed.
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The sandwich I ordered (kofta) is ground beef, so the “tough” part was not an issue for me.
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kofta should be lamb……but i for give you.
We also gave mexico all that free oil.
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the contents of the cigars sound like the most interesting I have ever heard of, niceeee
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Pastilla is traditionally made with pigeon. Sounds like something that could be “locally sourced.”
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ah… another truck with merguez. those cigars look really good too. seriously, i think if someone just did a merguez, kofta, and polish sausage truck, it’d make bank.
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Mamacita, I expect better from you! The post has a good scope, but:
1) No pic of the described caricature? :(
2) “to their chicken cous cous.)” Period *outside* the right parenthesis (OK, minor quibble there)
3) “but I couldn’t leave with trying one more thing:” *without*
4) “and a spice I could pinpoint but seemed like” …could *not* pinpoint*…
5) “I wish I would have ask for” *asked* (or better yet, “I wish I had asked for…”)Good informative write-up, but I’m feeling rather grammatical today. So where is the ML proofreading editor?
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You must admit the food porn pictures are excellent, though
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Good eye stevenp. You have the job if you want it, it volunteer work but for a good cause :-)
The cartoon is on the link to the menu and in the original pic of the sign from our first post of the truck. Added the link to the first paragraph to make it clearer.
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The caricature is on the “rest of the menu” link provided…which disturbingly features a content-looking chicken and a lamb licking its lips…
stevenp, you’re a transactional lawyer, right?
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Surprised nobody tried their specialty, cous cous. I wanted merguez cous cous, but they were out, so I had the beef cous cous. It was good. http://tinyurl.com/333w9np
Looking forward to more of their goodies, especially the cigars.
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David (who first told us about the truck) tried the cous cous and liked it (he’s actually a buddy of mine, but didn’t forward any pics)
Agreed with Danny “merguez, kofta, and polish sausage truck” would be heavenly!
I’m looking forward to trying the sausage and the stroganoff (I’m a sucker for creamy sauces)
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This place looks tasty will def try it out this week.
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I went a couple weeks ago and had the merguez. The sausage was very dry. The fries are $3 which is kind of a rip too.
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I found them by chance and i’m very happy I did. 3 days a week they are right by my office and now my whole office goes there. The food is consistantly fabulous. The only thing I have not tried is the tea.
My favorite is the roasted veggie sandwich with green olive sauce—its to die for especially if you like eggplant.
“My brochette was pretty big and packed with meat.”
I’m sure it is, Mama, I’m sure it is.