A Sushi Master in Albania 🍣

[JacobLED]

I would like to share with you one of my most surprising travel experiences. Born and raised in Berlin, which is Germany’s multi-cultural center, Asian food is a common word in my dictionary and my way of life. During my trip in the Albanian capital Tirana I got to know a polyglot who speaks my mother tongues as well as another 21 languages ​​fluently. We were very familiar from the beginning we met each other, from linguist to linguist, we exchanged ideas and learnings about how languages ​​came into being and which nations adopted which words from whom. When our acquaintance became more familiar, he told me about his travel route that led to the north of the country, the second largest city in Albania, Shkodër. He told me that he had a friend there who ran a sushi shop. I was a little skeptical at first, but this knowledgeable person activated my curiosity and I embarked on a culinary journey with him to the Sushi Master of Shkoder. Sushi te Shoki is in the north of Albania and I have to confess that it was worth the trip because I have never had such good sushi in my life.

Hello from here to my Japanese friends and my special friend from Taiwan.

[TsekoV]

Hi @JacobLED ,

I have just released your post from the spam filters. I would like to apologize for your post being marked as spam. Our filters run 24/7 and they can be a little harsh at times.

You can visit this article to learn more - Why was my Connect post marked as spam?.

By the way, I’ve noticed that your post has a Japanese language label. Please note that I’ve removed it as your post is written in English. To learn more about those labels I recommend you to take a look at the following article How do I find posts in my preferred language?.

[hheyimheidi]

Fascinating! I love finding hidden gem restaurants - the locals know what is best.

[JacobLED]

Me too @hheyimheidi … the most exciting places are found by total coincidence. That’s why I love to walk around and get lost while traveling

[JacobLED]

Hello @TsekoV

thank you very much for your suggestions. I am pretty new in using Local Guides Connect and have to check out a lot.

[InaS]

Hi @JacobLED ,

Interesting story you shared with us. I’m from Albania, and I didn’t know about this place. Maybe next time I will visit Shkodra, I will go and give it a try. Did you try anything traditional in Albania?

Keep in mind, when responding to others, make sure to tag them (by writing @ before their names) in a post, so they can receive notifications that you are communicating with them.

[JacobLED]

Hello @InaS

I am glad hearing it. Good for me if I could make you such a nice recommendation. This place is really a hidden gem and worth to give it a try.

I am nearly every year in the Balkans and Albania is for me the pearl of it. I’ve been in all major cities and my next travel plans is to cover some of the insiders I heard about and getting more into the countryside.

There are much more places I was eating at and tried amazing local specialties without writing a review. That’s because I am more the living and enjoying type of guy, with his tough-phone a way too heavy to pull out every time I am having a nice dinner or a quick bite in a cantina.

While talking about traditional food I hope I don’t have to mention how good Albanian Burek is. There is almost in every corner a Burektore (bakery for burek) where you can get burek in every shape from little triangles to snail formed burek with cream, cheese, spinache, mish (meat) or my favourite the unbeatable tomato-onion burek.

There is a tiny little special place, with just an oven inside and two mamas baking the most fresh, buttery burek with tomato-onion and blackpepper which is a hard to find combination in Albania.

Near Restorant Peshk Shengjini 1, Rruga Mihal Duri 20-6, Tirana, Albania

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XpuAujbo5SeMAp349

There is almost nowhere spicy food except you visit one of those Zgara Kosovare, where they have spicy sausage from Kosovo on BBQ.

While writing about BBQ and sausages it’d be unfair not to write about Korçë. Which is famous for it’s beer and street BBQs. But I must confess there is a much more interesting place in Korcë. As sausages you’ll get in almost every corner, there is a grilled chicken place to which I go on every visit.

Pirro - Pula të pjekura
Rruga Theodhoraq Saro, Korçë, Albania
+355 69 215 3791
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2uoXVnto3Xj16bZ66

In Tepelene I love the style of lamb kebap. How they grill and prepare their kebap is the same old style as in the village of my grandfather, which is far up north of Turkey. It is simple but 5 's deliciousness.

The most of the Albanian dishes have some similarities to Turkish delights but Tavë Kosi is very special. The amazing combination of Joghurt, rice, egg and chicken al forno. I tried it for first in Lilli’s Homemade Food in Berat. It is a highly recommendable place where you get a warm welcome with homemade wine or rakiya. The owner is a very talkative guy who loves to drink one, two or more with you when you have some nice travel stories to share. You’ll enjoy here Albanian hospitality as it’s fullest.

Homemade Food Lili
Rruga Llambi Guxhumani, Berat, Albania
+355 69 234 9362
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uQez1e7CnWJM5aiu8

Something very global but still traditional in it’s way was my visit of the Mussel Festival of Ksamil. One of the happenings where you put away your phone and enjoy the atmosphere and of course the delicious offerings every home, restaurant and mussel farmer is offering you. The only thing you’ll pay for is your white wine or beer you are drinking. This is one of the occasions I really want to repeat, as this festival goes 2 long days and I was just half a day there.

I want to finalize my post with something very traditional I tried this year and was immediately browsing through Google Search for recipes. It is called Kabuni. A dessert made of bone broth, rice and cinnamon.

There is of course much more I had @InaS this is a little preview for what Albania has to really offer.

I hope I have not awakened your appetite

[hheyimheidi]

Wandering around is my favorite way to travel! I live in NYC (except not at the moment because of COVID) and I love leisurely walking around a neighborhood, window shopping, taking my time to explore.

[JacobLED]

That’s what I used to do in Berlin @hheyimheidi

I am also withdrawn from everything at the moment and live an almost normal life with the retired people in a beach resident

[InaS]

Wow, @JacobLED , I enjoyed reading your reply. Thank you so much for the detailed information. The Tave Kosi is a traditional dish from my hometown, Elbasan, and the original recipe is with lamb meat. Have you been there?

The byrek is one of my cheating meals every time I go home. My favorite one is with spinach and cheese. Every dish you included here is worth trying. Did you have the chance to try fërgesë?

You indeed awakened my appetite.

[JacobLED]

Hello @InaS ,

I haven’t been in Elbasan, unfortunately. I liked the history of the city, found out about it during my readings through the life of Skenderbeg. I heard that the original version of tavë kosi is with lamb and I have to try it in Elbasan next time.

And no I haven’t tried fërgësë yet. Another earmark for me Albania is one of my favorite destinations and always my first stop on the Balkans. My journeys always starts and ends from there.

[InaS]

I’m really glad to hear that you like Albania so much @JacobLED . When you plan to travel again to Albania, you can tag me, and I will add some recommendations about what to try and see in Elbasan. I’m sure you will like a lot the fërgese.

[JacobLED]

Thank you for your suggestion @InaS

Be sure that I’ll give you an hello here

[system]

@JacobLED I admire you enthusiasm and curiosity to venture out deep to discover hidden gems in lesser known places by masters of culinary cuisines. I would have loved to see photos of the sushi. Thank you for sharing.

[JacobLED]

Thank you very much for your kind words @user_not_found I was more on watching the master while he was preparing each sushi piece for us with great order and joy then start to talk pictures like a tourist. I have him on video while he is preparing.

We had chef’s special from the menu and to our luck we were his first customers as you can see we are sitting at the bar in front, the bald head is me by the way

He prepared each the sushi piece by piece for us. I uploaded some pictures on Maps and deleted them as usual from my phone to save space.

[JacobLED]

Here are some pictures which was left on my Google Photos account. These are not the best pictures to satisfy the optical appetite, but I hope it is a sign of fine work @user_not_found

[system]

@JacobLED Thank you for sharing this tasty pictures. I like this use of colors and patterns in the sushi! What is the fish in the second picture?

[JacobLED]

I think it was Flounder but I am not sure anymore @user_not_found

he served us each sushi on a different plate, that was impressive. And I learned that it is not only plain fish on rice balls, there are layers between them. Some of them with Wasabi and some of them with thick fish sauce. It was an interesting and delicious experience for me.

I must correct something I just saw that the second is after the green dragon, which is the first picture. The fish in the second picture is a Mackerel with crispy fried skin. Mouthwatering, while thinking about it I just want to wake up in Shkodra.

[Ewaade_3A]

I enjoyed reading this post so much! I read through almost every one reply!

You sure are the King when it comes to good food!

I can almost taste the Sushi!

It was from you I learnt how to describe the taste of my food to those who may not have had it! Lovely post!

@JacobLED

#reignite

[JacobLED]

Love and kisses besides being a Burger guy I love Sushi @Ewaade_3A