Shatila...and the wonders it holds. [DTW area]

Rainsux, you've been telling me for years to get myself down to Shatila in Dearborn, and tonight it finally happened. Thank you, sir.

Shatila is very, very different to me. I went at around 10:30PM (that's dead-dark time, kids) on a Saturday night, when most places of its ilk aren't just closed, but they've been closed for *hours*, if they were even open on the weekend. When I finally pulled up to the place (which I've never, ever been by before), I was absolutely shocked: it was lit up like Las Vegas in the middle of the desert, I could see a *bunch* of people in there, and the parking lot was almost completely full. In fact, if you dawdled in getting a parking spot for even a moment, you could kiss it goodbye. This place was *hopping*. At 10:30 at night.

Inside, there are *dozens* of employees working. Did you see that? DOZENS. This is not a small little bakery enterprise with an "I think I can" attitude and the hopes and dreams of a nice little owner working six days a week. No, no, no...this is a *machine*...and if you don't mind my saying so, it appears to also be a license to print money. This is one *busy* place. Scads of tables for enjoying their fare...I'll bet there were 100 people in there while I was, if not more, and that's customers only.

I have to say that, looking around the place at the baked goods, I got a little bit apprehensive because their baked goods look *completely* like what you'd see/find at Astoria Bakery, which is to say, they appear *gloriously* beautiful, and then taste completely disappointing. I started to wonder if Rainsux had been "taken in" by the window dressing of the stuff, so to speak.

HOWEVER, what RS *always* talks about is the ice cream...the glorious ice creams they have there. I like me some ice cream, and I'm a pretty hard guy to please when it comes to ice cream. Quality counts, and I know creamy goodness when I taste it...or don't. The ice cream counter is plenty busy and they move the line along pretty quickly and smoothly. It's important to note that I'm *not* a big fan of fruit-and-cream together, for the most part. I like both...but usually not together. I always want to give things a proper try, though. The nice girl behind the counter was very helpful in allowing me to try different flavors before I "made the commitment".

The very first thing I tried was their "Kashti" flavor, which believe it or not, is flavored with rosewater. Not being familiar with this at all, I asked for a sample. And, boom goes the dynamite. What an exquisite flavor of ice cream...basically, it's a very creamy and deep vanilla-esque flavor with rosewater in it, which sort of tastes like edible creamy roses! I was *very* much taken with this flavor.

Not to jump the gun, however, I wanted to try some others, too...what if they're *all* this good? I was going to be in deep trouble if they were. Fortunately (or not!), they were completely out of chocolate ice cream, which is my baseline flavor for comparison and contrast. It's what I *always* try, everywhere, and well...they were just out of it in the hand-scoop area. Tough break. Instead, I was able to try several other flavors, and while most didn't change my mind about fruit-and-cream, I must say that their lemon flavor is an absolute *dream*. Oh, yes. That fruit-and-cream combination? Any day of the week. I don't care a whit about their pistachio, mango (both of which are more expensive than everything else), pineapple, caramel (actually, yuck), and another flavor or two. That lemon though? That was the girl's suggestion, and she absolutely *nailed* it.

Still, I found my desires returning to the kashti flavor I'd originally tried, and I got a small serving of that in a green dish ($2.65 out the door). I sat down with my little treasure and consumed it very happily. I fully grant the quality of this stuff just based on the creaminess of it, and the ensuing satisfaction from the process of eating it. I was extremely surprised when, while looking at the pre-packed quarts in the cooler, that cream wasn't the first ingredient: milk was (then cream was next). Based on how smooth and creamy it was, I thought for sure that cream would be first.

There are *lots* of reasons for me to go back now. There's the wonderful kashti flavor. There's the chocolate flavor they were out of. There's the cherry flavor I didn't get to try. There are all of those baked goods which, based on the quality of the ice cream, I'd be willing to give them a go on. There are the *fantastic* hours for a place of this type.

Color me impressed. I never knew what I was missing until now.