The 25th Universiade in Belgrade brings the Head of Algerian delegation back to Serbia

Taking the athletes to try chilli pepers with garlic

The Head of Algerian delegation, Mokhtar Hefaja, has already been to Belgrade. Not only did he visit the capital of Serbia several times during Tito's Yugoslavia, he also took to the cuisine, and he has promised his athletes to introduce them to it as well


By ANA MILOJKOVIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA






















"I have been to Belgrade several times before, during Tito's Yugoslavia, so I have visited the most popular sites and met a lot of the locals. That gives me the right to say I love this town and that I love Serbians! I know what I am talking about, I am not saying that out of sheer politeness. I will certainly be a good tour guide to my athletes", says the head of Algerian delegation, and instantly adds that the students haven't had a lot of free time so far and that most of their day comes down to practices, competitions and meetings. As soon as they have a day off, he says he will take them to see Kalemegdan fortress and Knez Mihailova, the main street.

"I would like to show them the monuments, the museums and the Parliament, but some suburbs as well. How do I know about them, you wonder? I told you, I've been here before", says Hefaja, with a smile and admits that the young athletes are most interested in Belgrade night life, which they have been hearing about from other athletes. "Our culture forbids going to clubs, but I'll let them go. I will wink at it, they are young and going out is all they talk about. That IS what interests them most... By the way, alcohol is also prohibited, but they will be able to have some. After all, how can they say they have been in Serbia unless they tried a homemade rakija (plum brandy)", wonders jovial Hefaja. The mention of ''homemade'' brings him to the subject of Serbian cuisine specials. As for meat, the religion says they can consume only halal meat, which means that a true Serbian grilled meat is out of limits.

- But I will see to it that they try everything else. I will recommend beans, kajmak (dairy product similar to clotted cream) and the last but certainly not the least, chilli pepers with garlic, my personal favourite. God, you do have wonderful chillis... I love them... To be honest, we do have a similar dish, it's called hamis. But Serbian chillis are more tasteful", claims Hefaja and admits to dipping his bread in chilli peppers sauce throughout lunch.


(Published: 18.07.2009.)