Are you Balkan, and are you missing your grandma’s cooking? Or, do you find yourself next to Marmellata, but do not want to wait in the queue? Or, perhaps, you want to take your friends to a spot with good food, and even better service, but also want to try a new cuisine? Kuzina 22 might be just the spot for you!

Last weekend, I experienced something I never did before. An experience which marked a new level of intimateness and trust - I met one of my closest friend’s boyfriend. However, not just any boyfriend - the guy she claims is the one.

In preparations for this nerve-wracking hangout, my friend and I were troubled with a serious question - where to go? Since my friend and I are Balkan, and her boyfriend is Arab, we thought what better place to go to than a spot which breathes our culture - a home away from home. So, in our search for a Balkan spot, I remembered Kuzina 22, a spot which I have been eager to try for a while. A night I was nervous for turned out to be an evening of laughter, joy, and great food.

So, do the Balkans approve of this Balkan spot? Absolutely, and here is why.

Once the clothes we had ironed were on, and the sentimental perfume we have been keeping for a special occasion was sprayed, we were ready to go. After the 10 minute and 25 AED taxi ride covered by the boyfriend, we arrived at the gorgeous Souq Al Mina part of the Zayed Port. Kuzina 22 is located in the last row of the stores and restaurants, looking at the beautiful port itself.

The Balkan restaurant had an excess of beautiful tables to choose from, despite it being a Saturday night. We were greeted by the staff with the largest smiles, and immediately felt at home. Anyone who has had the privilege of traveling in the Balkan region, especially in the ex-Yugoslav countries, can testify to the level of love that you will be greeted with at any traditional restaurant. No matter how large the spot is, whether the owners themselves are your servers, or how large your group is, one thing is certain - you will feel at home.

The owner quickly overheard my friend and I speaking the shared language of Balkan Slavs, and immediately introduced himself, making sure our dining was exquisite. Since the restaurant was not busy, the food we had ordered, with the advice from the owner, was ready very quickly.

In any Balkan home, event, or restaurant, you start with a meza - a tapas-style plate, filled with traditional meat, cheese, and finger food. The meza we were served, plated on a circular dish, included an amazing array of sliced meat of all kinds, traditional goat cheese, and roasted bell peppers in garlic-infused olive oil. The tapas were organised around a bowl in the center, in which you could find prebranac, a very traditional baked-beans dish. On the side, you are served a plate of proja, or Balkan cornbread with cheese, which tasted identical to how my grandma makes it. With the excellent meza comes a bread-filled basket, in which you can find somun, or the traditional style of fluffy, crunchy bread which we eat with our food. It was deliciously hot - exactly how it should be. While my friend and I were biased, considering our Balkan roots, the Arab boyfriend and my Latina friend that joined us, agreed with our praise of the food.

Once the meza was cleared and the initial get-to-knowing of the boyfriend was done, our main course arrived. We ordered the Mixed Grill for two people, but with the appetizers and the dessert we got, it was more than enough food for the four of us. Back home, when you go to celebrate a milestone, a marriage, or simply do not have time to cook, you have roštilj - our version of barbeque. And, depending on how picky your family members are, the classic dish to order is the miješano meso - a mixed meat platter, with something for everyone.

In Kuzina 22, the mixed grill platter comes with traditional ćevapi, or little beef kebabs, alongside beef skewers or ražnjići, a pljeskavica or a beef patty, and classic kobasice - grilled beef sausages. This hefty meal comes with homemade somun, and an array of traditional dips - kajmak and ajvar, served with finely chopped onion. Kajmak is the Balkan version of cream cheese, and I see it as a middleground between cheese and butter. Ajvar, my favourite, is a dip made from roasted red bell peppers, often combined with zucchini and eggplant. Both of these dips are staples in our cuisine, and any family in the rural parts or in the villages will have their own homemade versions of these dishes.

To say the roštilj was good is an understatement, especially considering how dependent our cuisine is on homemade ingredients - often difficult to find abroad, especially in the Middle East. The meat was grilled amazingly, and once you eat it the traditional way - in the somun, alongside kajmak, ajvar, and onion, you reach perfection. For a refreshing kick on the side, we ordered the traditional šopska salata, a salad consisting of cucumbers, tomatoes, and onion, with some feta cheese sprinkled on top.

Once we were done with the mouth-watering main course, we wanted to complete the night by ordering a Balkan style pita, or pie. Back home, pie is not what you see in movies. It is made with a lot of thin, crunchy dough which we call kore, and you can find various flavours, from apple to cheese. Since we were eating quite close to the closing time, the restaurant kindly made us the last round of cherry pie, with breathtaking homemade, crunchy kore. It was the perfect way to finish our culinary journey for the night.

This amazing night cost around 400 AED total for the four of us. Included in this price are the cold-platter appetizers, the amazing mixed-grill platter with the side of salad, and two cherry pies. As a highlight for the Balkan foodies, you can find authentic Knjaz Miloš sparkling water and Aqua Viva still water, which we had for the table. While the boyfriend was kind enough to cover the bill, perhaps in the search for our approval, the cost of the bill per person would be around 100 AED -- a price worth paying for a very accurate, Balkan spot.

As the last bites of the pie were eaten, we were engaging more and more with the boyfriend. You always want what is the best for your friends, and seeing them happy is one of the greatest confirmations of your love. Back home, emotions are not something you are taught to be loud about, and love is no different. We always put friendship and family over romance, so approval from the loved ones is one of the final tests. So, when the boyfriend briefly left the table for a call, and the friend asked me: “what do you think?”, only a short but effective answer was needed: “Dobar je” (“He is good!”). And, with that green-light, the night continued with laughter, good stories, and love.