Chef and owner Wali Saai's establishment harkens to an ancient time in Afghanistan's history when the Silk Road carried the culinary influences of Persia and the cooking techniques of Asia to bear on the plentiful lamb, eggplant and maast (a tart yogurt). The richness of that tradition is reflected in a menu that celebrates recognizable dishes - various skewered Afghan-spiced kabobs, for instance - and a host of pleasant surprises scented delicately with cinnamon, cardamon and cumin. The hotter chiles associated with Indian cookery are conspicuously absent; orange peel, carrot, raisin, pistachio and almond flavor Kabul's rices in the Iranian or Persian style.

We'll be ordering dinner & dessert from the menu, so take a sneak peek to whet your appetite and plan your wine selection!

Here are the details of the wines we had that evening, followed by pricing.

Beth Sheligo: 1996 Bopparder Hamm Feuerlay Rulander Auslese, Weingart
Deb Denis: 2005 Darting Gerwuztraminer Kabinett
Mary Beth Driscoll: Kenwood Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2005
Mary Jane Garbo: Monte Negro 2005 Ribera Del Duero
Kathy Muirhead: 2006 Coppola Silver Label Pinot Noir
Meryle Melnicoff: 2004 Trimbach Reisling
Mary Bak: Falenghina Dei Feudi Di San Gregorio 2006
Melissa Kary: Snoqualimie – 2006 Winemaker’s Select Riesling
Susan McDevitt: Montinore Estate 2006 Pinot Noir
Terese COnver: Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz 2005

The fully-inclusive cost for this dinner is $34 per person ($36 via PayPal) for members and first-time guests, and $44 ($47 via PayPal) for Non-members.

Dinner includes several plates of appetizers per table, choice of entrée & dessert from the menu, American coffee, tax & gratuity.

Each attendee is asked to bring one bottle of wine and be prepared to talk briefly about it.

Your payment is your reservation. Mail check, payable to Cencibel, to

RSVP to Marybeth at Driscoll-Marybeth@aramark.com

Note: The restaurant does have glassware, and we encourage you to bring your own.

Members PayPal $36

Guests PayPal $47