PRESS

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"Born and raised in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, Rahim Muhammad loved traveling the world with his mother, Shawn Muhammad. He enjoyed experiencing new places through their diverse cuisines and valued the connection that food sparked between people.

Now, the mother-son team hopes to breathe fresh life into their neighborhood’s restaurant scene with Mahari, their new restaurant featuring dishes inspired by different cultures they love."

"At Mahari, he said, they celebrate their roots through the different routes of the African diaspora. That starts with small bites, including his calas, also known as Creole rice fritters, traditionally a sweet breakfast dish served with cafe au lait. But chef Rah, as he’s known, makes savory deep-fried salmon cala, served with mango chutney and a clementine salad."

"Staff from Mahari, a new restaurant serving up cuisine from across the African diaspora, along with elected officials and members of the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce celebrate the eatery's opening in the Hyde Park Shopping Center with a ribbon-cutting on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025."

From "23 Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend" - New Afro-fusion restaurant Mahari is opening its doors this weekend, kicking off with a Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce. Started by chef Rahim Muhammad, Mahari mixes African, Caribbean, Creole, Afro-Latina and soul food.

"(Muhammad's grandmother's) home, nestled in a large network of levees for the Mississippi River, was teeming with life – the front yard had avocado, fig and plum trees, and it was a meeting place for the extended family. He added that the warm, moist climate of Louisiana meant that crops grew in abundance in his grandmother’s community, imbuing people with a strong value for fresh food."