Latest news with #Saracen
The Age
11-08-2025
- Business
- The Age
Zareh, Collingwood: Tom Sarafian's debut restaurant and what you should expect
At Zareh in Collingwood, the dip king and ex-Bar Saracen head chef will intertwine his Armenian and Egyptian heritage – and share his 'death-row dish' with diners. (And it's not his famed hummus.) August 12, 2025 , register or subscribe to save articles for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. One of Melbourne's most anticipated restaurants in recent years finally has an opening date. Zareh, the long-awaited debut of young-gun chef Tom Sarafian, will open in Collingwood next Wednesday, August 20, spotlighting his Armenian and Egyptian heritage. Zareh, the debut restaurant of chef Tom Sarafian, is nearly ready to open in Collingwood. Kristoffer Paulsen Part of what makes it so closely watched is, yes, the lengthy lead time. It also marks Sarafian's return to restaurants after four years of pop-ups and running a successful condiment business. But mostly, it's the former Bar Saracen head chef's refusal to take the path of least resistance in his pursuit of perfection. (This is a man who still insists on hand-peeling garlic for his eponymous dip.) 'We do everything the hard way,' says Sarafian. He's the first to bring mouneh (Lebanese pantry staples) from south Lebanese brand Droubna to Melbourne. From quality sumac to supersized pine nuts, they'll be used across the menu and also available to buy, alongside Sarafian dips, in the deli section. He's also struck out on his own to open the restaurant on Smith Street. It was initially meant to be part of the Mulberry Group stable, but that changed when an appropriate site couldn't be found. 1 / 6 Kafta nayeh (raw lamb dressed with toum, chilli and herbs) is one of Sarafian's Bar Saracen signatures. Kristoffer Paulsen 2 / 6 Chef-owner Tom Sarafian (second from left) with members of his team. Kristoffer Paulsen 3 / 6 Hummus topped with Fraser Isle spanner crab and Mooloolaba prawns. Kristoffer Paulsen 4 / 6 Arak appears across several drinks, including a negroni. Kristoffer Paulsen 5 / 6 The sound system and vinyl collection are a key part of the venue. Kristoffer Paulsen 6 / 6 Tunisian pastry filled with tuna, potato, harissa and more. Kristoffer Paulsen Named for Sarafian's grandfather, Zareh is an elegant 40-seater with deep connections to home. Sarafian will work alongside his brother and cousin, helping out with dips production and front-of-house, respectively. The fit-out emulates their grandparents' house, from burgundy tiles to an identical amber-glass sliding door. The ever-evolving menu will traverse Sarafian's roots, weaving in influences from the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean, as well as his training in London. Sarafian's 'death-row dish' is manti, Armenian style. Here he's baking the teeny-tiny, meat-stuffed dumplings until crunchy, then splashing them with a tomato broth that the bottom soaks up while the top stays crisp. They're dressed with garlicky labneh and Aleppo chilli from Tasmania's Fat Carrot Farm. Hummus topped with Fraser Isle spanner crab and Mooloolaba prawns. Kristoffer Paulsen Ghapama – an Armenian dish 'so iconic they sing songs about it' – is a hollowed-out heirloom pumpkin filled with rice, nuts and dried fruit that's cooked in the wood oven. 'Magical' chicken wings are charcoal-grilled then wood-fired in a claypot, with copious amounts of Sarafian's own toum, lemon and coriander. The chef describes the oven and charcoal barbecue custom-built by The Brick Chef as 'more important than salt'. It wouldn't be a Sarafian restaurant without his signature hummus, adorned with Fraser Isle spanner crab and Mooloolaba prawns. 'This food is [often] seen as cheap and cheerful. We eat it a lot at home ... and at kebab joints. We felt like we needed a room to show off the pinnacle of what [it] can be,' says Sarafian. The house martini garnished with a gilda. Kristoffer Paulsen Completing the equation is arak, the anise spirit, specially imported from Lebanese producer Farid. There are three – OG, coffee, za'atar – to have neat or with a splash of sparkling water, which isn't traditional, Sarafian says, but enhances the flavour. A bracing arak-spiked martini comes with the optional (but arguably essential) add-on of a gilda. 13 exciting restaurant openings we're counting down to this year It's dinner-only to start, but Zareh will soon add lunches and grab-and-go options to the deli. Dinner Wed-Sun from August 20. 368 Smith Street, Collingwood, Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up
Sydney Morning Herald
11-08-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Zareh, Collingwood: Tom Sarafian's debut restaurant and what you should expect
At Zareh in Collingwood, the dip king and ex-Bar Saracen head chef will intertwine his Armenian and Egyptian heritage – and share his 'death-row dish' with diners. (And it's not his famed hummus.) August 12, 2025 , register or subscribe to save articles for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. One of Melbourne's most anticipated restaurants in recent years finally has an opening date. Zareh, the long-awaited debut of young-gun chef Tom Sarafian, will open in Collingwood next Wednesday, August 20, spotlighting his Armenian and Egyptian heritage. Zareh, the debut restaurant of chef Tom Sarafian, is nearly ready to open in Collingwood. Kristoffer Paulsen Part of what makes it so closely watched is, yes, the lengthy lead time. It also marks Sarafian's return to restaurants after four years of pop-ups and running a successful condiment business. But mostly, it's the former Bar Saracen head chef's refusal to take the path of least resistance in his pursuit of perfection. (This is a man who still insists on hand-peeling garlic for his eponymous dip.) 'We do everything the hard way,' says Sarafian. He's the first to bring mouneh (Lebanese pantry staples) from south Lebanese brand Droubna to Melbourne. From quality sumac to supersized pine nuts, they'll be used across the menu and also available to buy, alongside Sarafian dips, in the deli section. He's also struck out on his own to open the restaurant on Smith Street. It was initially meant to be part of the Mulberry Group stable, but that changed when an appropriate site couldn't be found. 1 / 6 Kafta nayeh (raw lamb dressed with toum, chilli and herbs) is one of Sarafian's Bar Saracen signatures. Kristoffer Paulsen 2 / 6 Chef-owner Tom Sarafian (second from left) with members of his team. Kristoffer Paulsen 3 / 6 Hummus topped with Fraser Isle spanner crab and Mooloolaba prawns. Kristoffer Paulsen 4 / 6 Arak appears across several drinks, including a negroni. Kristoffer Paulsen 5 / 6 The sound system and vinyl collection are a key part of the venue. Kristoffer Paulsen 6 / 6 Tunisian pastry filled with tuna, potato, harissa and more. Kristoffer Paulsen Named for Sarafian's grandfather, Zareh is an elegant 40-seater with deep connections to home. Sarafian will work alongside his brother and cousin, helping out with dips production and front-of-house, respectively. The fit-out emulates their grandparents' house, from burgundy tiles to an identical amber-glass sliding door. The ever-evolving menu will traverse Sarafian's roots, weaving in influences from the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean, as well as his training in London. Sarafian's 'death-row dish' is manti, Armenian style. Here he's baking the teeny-tiny, meat-stuffed dumplings until crunchy, then splashing them with a tomato broth that the bottom soaks up while the top stays crisp. They're dressed with garlicky labneh and Aleppo chilli from Tasmania's Fat Carrot Farm. Hummus topped with Fraser Isle spanner crab and Mooloolaba prawns. Kristoffer Paulsen Ghapama – an Armenian dish 'so iconic they sing songs about it' – is a hollowed-out heirloom pumpkin filled with rice, nuts and dried fruit that's cooked in the wood oven. 'Magical' chicken wings are charcoal-grilled then wood-fired in a claypot, with copious amounts of Sarafian's own toum, lemon and coriander. The chef describes the oven and charcoal barbecue custom-built by The Brick Chef as 'more important than salt'. It wouldn't be a Sarafian restaurant without his signature hummus, adorned with Fraser Isle spanner crab and Mooloolaba prawns. 'This food is [often] seen as cheap and cheerful. We eat it a lot at home ... and at kebab joints. We felt like we needed a room to show off the pinnacle of what [it] can be,' says Sarafian. The house martini garnished with a gilda. Kristoffer Paulsen Completing the equation is arak, the anise spirit, specially imported from Lebanese producer Farid. There are three – OG, coffee, za'atar – to have neat or with a splash of sparkling water, which isn't traditional, Sarafian says, but enhances the flavour. A bracing arak-spiked martini comes with the optional (but arguably essential) add-on of a gilda. 13 exciting restaurant openings we're counting down to this year It's dinner-only to start, but Zareh will soon add lunches and grab-and-go options to the deli. Dinner Wed-Sun from August 20. 368 Smith Street, Collingwood, Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up
Irish Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Royal Ascot Saturday tips and full race card - list of runners on day 5
Godolphin and William Buick have both been among the winners at Royal Ascot this week, but trainer Charlie Appleby has yet to get one on the board. The Newmarket trainer will be hoping to put that right on the final day of the meeting and has two strong chances in the opening two races. Treanmor, a €2million purchase, won by four lengths on debut at Newmarket next month and looks set to go off favourite in the Chesham Stakes. Meanwhile, Rebel's Romance looks the one to beat in the Hardwicke Stakes as Appleby aims to provide Godolphin and Buick with more success at the Royal meeting. The sole Group 1 on the final day is the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes as Inisherin aims to follow up his victory in the Commonwealth Cup last year. Kevin Ryan's horses have been running well this week and Buick takes the ride. Here's a full list of Saturday's runners and riders, as well as a tip for each race: 2.30pm: 7f Chesham Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (2yo) 1 Brave Hunter Silvestre De Sousa2 Humidity James Doyle3 Tailgunner Joe (USA) Sean Levey4 Thesecretadversary (IRE) Seamie Heffernan5 Treanmor (IRE) William Buick6 Waterford Castle (IRE) Rossa Ryan7 Zooter D E Hogan8 Moments Of Joy (USA) Ryan Moore9 Venetian Lace (IRE) B Loughnane Newsboy's tip: Moments Of Joy 3.05pm: 1m4f (1m3f211y) Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (4yo+) 1 Al Aasy (IRE) Jim Crowley2 Al Riffa (FR) Dylan McMonagle3 Bellum Justum (IRE) P J McDonald4 Burdett Road S D Bowen5 Candleford (IRE) Tom Marquand6 Epic Poet (IRE) Daniel Tudhope7 Ghostwriter (IRE) David Egan8 Palladium (GER) Ryan Moore9 Rebel's Romance (IRE) William Buick10 Space Legend (IRE) James Doyle11 Sunway (FR) Oisin Murphy12 Tabletalk (IRE) Rossa Ryan Newsboy's tip: Al Aasy 3.40pm: 6f Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) (4yo+) 1 Annaf (IRE) Rossa Ryan2 Elite Status Clifford Lee3 Grand Grey (IRE) Jamie Spencer4 Iberian (IRE) B Loughnane5 Inisherin William Buick6 James's Delight (IRE) Colin Keane7 Jasour Jim Crowley8 Lazzat (FR) James Doyle9 Run To Freedom Trevor Whelan10 Sajir (IRE) Oisin Murphy11 Satono Reve (JPN) J Moreira12 Storm Boy (AUS) Ryan Moore13 Topgear (FR) Stephane Pasquier14 Flora Of Bermuda (IRE) P J McDonald15 Great Generation (IRE) Marco Ghiani16 Nighteyes (IRE) Daniel Tudhope Newsboy's tip: Inisherin 4.20pm: 7f Jersey Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo) 1 Benevento (IRE) Rossa Ryan2 Brian (IRE) B Loughnane3 Caburn (IRE) D E Hogan4 Comanche Brave (IRE) Ryan Moore5 Dhitjari A Starke6 Marvelman (IRE) Oisin Murphy7 Noble Champion (IRE) Kieran Shoemark8 One Smack Mac (IRE) Colin Keane9 Pellitory Silvestre De Sousa10 Remmooz Callum Rodriguez11 Saracen (FR) Dylan McMonagle12 Seagulls Eleven (IRE) Harry Davies13 Spy Chief Robert Havlin14 Yah Mo Be There Jamie Spencer15 California Dreamer David Egan Newsboy's tip: Saracen 5.00pm: 6f Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-110) 1 Apollo One Daniel Tudhope2 Valiant Force (USA) David Egan3 Zoum Zoum Rossa Ryan4 City House (IRE) Callum Shepherd5 Jarraaf B Loughnane6 Korker (IRE) Jack Nicholls (7)7 Purosangue Oisin Murphy8 Symbol Of Honour Non Runner9 Shartash (IRE) James Doyle10 Ten Pounds (IRE) Trevor Whelan11 Get It Seamie Heffernan12 Game Run (FR) M Grandin13 Twilight Calls Jamie Spencer14 Desert Cop Jim Crowley15 Orazio (IRE) Saffie Osborne16 Cover Up (IRE) Silvestre De Sousa17 Vadream Kieran Shoemark18 Aramram (IRE) Ryan Moore19 We Never Stop (IRE) Shane Gray20 Roman Dragon David Probert21 More Thunder (IRE) Tom Marquand22 Golden Mind (IRE) Warren Fentiman (5)23 Completely Random Callum Rodriguez24 Woodhay Wonder Sean Levey25 Noble Truth (FR) Luke Morris26 Germanic (IRE) R Sexton27 Saint Lawrence (IRE) Colin Keane28 Jumby (IRE) Charles Bishop29 Holkham Bay Brandon Wilkie (3) Newsboy's tip: Orazio 5.35pm: 1m2f (1m1f212y) Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo 0-105) 1 Rock Of Cashel (IRE) Sean Levey2 Sallaal (IRE) Ray Dawson3 Tycoon David Egan4 Best Secret (FR) James Doyle5 Seraph Gabriel (IRE) Rossa Ryan6 El Burhan (IRE) Jim Crowley7 Basalt (IRE) Luke Morris8 Aurel (GER) Richard Kingscote9 Dakota Blue (FR) Ben Coen10 Quai De Bethune (FR) Oisin Murphy11 Ernst Blofeld (IRE) William Buick12 Roosevelt Ryan Moore13 Fantazy Man (IRE) Seamie Heffernan14 War Socks Silvestre De Sousa15 The King's Falcon Non Runner16 Glen To Glen (IRE) Dylan McMonagle17 Brindavan (IRE) Colin Keane Newsboy's tip: El Burhan 6.10pm: 2m5½f (2m5f143y) Queen Alexandra Stakes (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) 1 Sober (FR) Ryan Moore2 King Of The Road (IRE) David Probert3 Samui Colin Keane4 Scottish Anthem K S McHugh5 Tashkhan (IRE) Callum Shepherd6 Trooper Bisdee (IRE) Luke Morris7 Youthful King Jack Dace8 Dallas Star (FR) David Egan9 Paradoxical (IRE) Warren Fentiman10 Toby Tops George Wood11 Wild Waves (IRE) Oisin Murphy Newsboy's tip: Samui
Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Royal Ascot each-way and Lucky 15 tips: Day 5
Ron Wood has picked out a Lucky 15 for Royal Ascot day five on Saturday, as well as an each-way bet. Royal Ascot Day 5 Lucky 15 tips The first runner in this Lucky 15 bet is TREANMOR in the opening race on the card, the Listed Chesham Stakes (2.30). This horse won so easily in a 6f Newmarket novice on his debut. The form has been let down, but there is no doubt at all that he is a smart colt. He is fast and bred to stay. The second leg of the Lucky 15 is SARACEN in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes (4.20). Read more about him in the each-way bet below – he is a strong fancy. Next up is JARRAAF in the Wokingham (5.00). He won a couple of handicaps over course and distance on good and quick ground last year and there was nothing wrong with his reappearance fourth in a Salisbury Listed race. The final selection is SOBER in the closing Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.10). He was a dual Group 2-winning stayer on the Flat in France in 2023 and most recently won over hurdles – over 2m 4f – on his debut for Willie Mullins. He has never tried as far as this trip (2m 5½f), but he looks like having too much for his rivals. Treanmor (2.30, Ascot) @ 6/4 with Sky Bet (⅕ for first 3 places) Saracen (4.20, Ascot) @ 5/1 with Sky Bet (⅕ for first 5 places) Jarraaf (5.00, Ascot) @ 13/2 with Sky Bet (⅕ for first 7 places) Sober (6.10, Ascot) @ 10/11 with Sky Bet (⅕ for first 3 places) A £0.10p each-way Lucky 15 – for a total stake of £3 – on these four horses offers a potential return of £83.32. Royal Ascot Day 5 each-way tip There is still better to come from SARACEN (4.20). He won a 6f Curragh maiden by four lengths on his sole juvenile start and was still raw when third in the 7f Greenham at Newbury on his reappearance. That race did not unfold to suit and he was beaten by two horses with Group 1 form. Saracen ran at Newbury so his connections could see whether he was one for the French 2,000 Guineas or the Jersey, and he turns up in the latter contest with strong-looking claims, especially of making the first five places, for which Sky Bet pays out. Odds provided by Sky Bet and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (maximum five). Check out the best Royal Ascot free bets and betting offers Lucky 15 explained There are 'multiple' bet options that can be a good way of still getting paid out even if certain runners let you down, and a Lucky 15 is one of the classics. This bet is made up of four selections, with single bets on each of them (four bets), six doubles (all the combinations of the four selections), as well as four trebles and one four-fold accumulator. Clue's in the name, that's 15 bets in total. That might seem like a lot of bets but you can stake accordingly and, as the odds build, these options can return substantial payouts even to a relatively small lay-out. What is an each-way bet? An each-way bet is a popular type of wager, particularly with horse racing fans. It is essentially two bets, both of which have the same size stake. An each-way bet features one bet on the selection to win and the other bet on the selection to place. So a £10 each-way bet will cost you a total of £20. There will be one £10 bet on the selection to win and another £10 on the selection to place. It's a popular bet because it offers punters the chance of a return, even if the horse in question fails to win. Bookmakers will pay out at a stated percentage of the odds for a place finish, for example one-fifth of the SP for finishing in the first three. The more runners there are in a horse race, the more places will be on offer. In races that feature lots of runners, the horses will be available at bigger odds, making an each-way bet a wise choice. Ron Wood 2025 horse racing P/L (up to and including Thursday June 19) Star ratings explained ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy ⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims ⭐⭐ - tentative choice ⭐ - minimum confidence If you want to find more odds and offers, take a look at our list of the best betting sites and free bets Check out our list of the best casino bonuses in the UK
Ya Biladi
06-06-2025
- Ya Biladi
Fraxinet, a 10th-century Muslim trading post in Saint-Tropez
In the 10th century, Saint-Tropez was home to a Saracen trading post following a Muslim conquest around 890, likely led by sailors from Al-Andalus. This historic land, situated at the crossroads of maritime, commercial, and military routes in the Mediterranean, witnessed the evolution of civilizations due to its proximity to Sardinia and Sicily. Over the centuries, the French commune absorbed these influences. At the turn of the 9th century, the territory experienced Muslim raids and incursions in southern Europe, where Al-Andalus and the Italian islands endured centuries of caliphal rule. Fraxinet emerged amid numerous armed power struggles. Alongside the Three Sacks of Rome in 846, 849, and 876, raids targeted Provence, including attacks on Marseille in 838 and 846. Simultaneously, Muslim forces established bases in Camargue (France), Bari (Italy), and Crete (Greece) during the 9th century. More than a corsair outpost in Saint-Tropez, Fraxinet became a significant economic and political landmark, though historical records remain scarce. Some accounts link Saint-Tropez's Muslim past to these incursions, leaving a lasting mark on the commune. The 10th-century Muslim chronicler and geographer Mohammed Abul-Kassem ibn Hawqal mentioned Fraxinet in his travel writings. Known for his journeys between 943 and 969, the author of the famous Configuration of the Earth describes an island at the Rhône's mouth, near Al-Andalus, reminiscent of the Balearics. An Autonomous Muslim Stronghold Historian and chronicler Ibn Hayyan al-Qurtubi (987–1076) refers to an Umayyad «peace treaty» sent around 941 to affiliated territories, including Fraxinet's leader. According to this scholar from Córdoba, the border area primarily served a military function, acting as a fortress and launch point for offensives. Despite its distance from the caliphal center in Al-Andalus, the trading post was managed by leaders who maintained significant autonomy. This collection of historical clues suggests that Fraxinet's warriors founded their Saint-Tropez outpost for defensive purposes, reinforcing border Muslim raids. Political instability in the region facilitated the rapid conquest of southern European lands. Additionally, the fertile land fostered agricultural and economic prosperity, even as the Fatimids (909–1171) rose in Egypt, North Africa's Ifriqiya, and Sicily before the Norman conquest in the 11th century. In The Saracens of Fraxinetum in the 10th Century, published in Islamic Lands and the Latin World (Presses universitaires de Lyon, 2000), medieval historians Pierre Guichard and Denis Menjot confirm these insights. They note that «Provence suffered from Saracen raids since the mid-9th century, similar to southern Italy». However, these repeated attacks mainly affected the western region and did not quickly lead to lasting settlement. The second wave of invasions, however, brought about deeper changes «for nearly a century», as testified by Bishop Liutprand of Cremona (920–971/972), cited by the authors. «A familiar of Otto I, whom he served as ambassador to Byzantium, Liutprand lived for a long time at the court of Hugh of Arles and had good knowledge of Provence. In his main work, dedicated to Bishop Recemund of Elvira, the Antapodosis ('Reprisals' against Berengar II of Ivrea), he recounts the events in Provence from the Saracens' arrival to their final defeat», the researchers explain. They add that the Saracens' settlement «may have begun with a fortuitous event: the shipwreck of a marauding boat from Umayyad Spain». A Military Base for Northern Incursions Guichard and Menjot further explain that the new conquerors «were reinforced between the late 9th century and early 10th century» to «take over the forested scrubland of the Maures and fortify themselves on the Fraxinet peninsula, in the Gulf of Grimaud (Var)». From this base, «they devastated eastern Provence, raided deep into the Alps, and created a genuine climate of insecurity», the historians emphasize. The Saracens' raids intensified alongside escalating political struggles in the Kingdom of Arles. The authors note that «King Hugh secured the Byzantine emperor's support, whose troops blockaded Fraxinetum in 942, but Hugh's rival Berengar of Ivrea engaged the Saracens, angering Liutprand. Emperor Otto unsuccessfully negotiated with the Caliph of Córdoba to recall the Muslim bands. The capture of Abbot Mayeul of Cluny at the Great Saint Bernard Pass provoked a strong reaction, leading to military operations — primarily by Count Guillem of Provence against Fraxinetum — resulting in the Saracens' final expulsion in 972». In Fraxinetum: An Islamic Frontier State in Tenth-Century Provence, Mohammad Ballan describes the Andalusian colony of Fraxinet as an «Islamic frontier entity» developed into a significant economic and military center in Provence. Serving as an advanced post of Al-Andalus, Fraxinet had the dual purpose of defense and community enrichment, as Ibn Hawqal described. Thus, the Saracens proclaimed their emirate of Fraxinet to invest in the territory and use it as a base for larger-scale northern military expeditions. Notably, they controlled western Alpine passes and dominated trade routes between France, Italy, and Switzerland, parts of which were under their control. Between 890 and 972, the Saint-Tropez peninsula was an Arab-Muslim colony known as Jabal al-Qilâl («Mountain of Peaks«) or Farakhshinit — the Arabized form of the Gallo-Roman fraxinetu. The region was governed by Nasr ibn Ahmad, appointed caïd around 940. The Saracens were definitively expelled in 976 by Guillaume I, Count of Provence (960–993) and Lord of Grimaud, who fortified the city by building a tower on the current site of the Suffren in 980.
