March 27, 2012 – On February 4, the flavor of the East Village Arts District was spiced up with the opening of ASHA Moroccan Mediterranean Kitchen at 149 Linden Ave., Suite E. Owner and self-described “foodie” Hend Elarabi, who also owns the adjoining coffee shop, The Greenhouse, began the two-story restaurant with her Moroccan background as her influence and the burgeoning East Village neighborhood as her location of choice. “The [East Village] Arts District is very eclectic,” Elarabi said. “It’s like a melting pot. Here, there’s diversity and opportunity to grow.” With flavorful dishes such as chicken tawook and charbroiled lamb chops, the Long Beach resident hopes her cuisine leaves customers with a “taste to remember,” she said. “Our menu is full of flavor. I want them to leave with an amazing experience of what Moroccan and Mediterranean food is about.” ASHA Moroccan Mediterranean Kitchen is open daily for lunch and dinner service from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call 562/628-2255. Pictured top left are Elarabi and her mother, Wafa Jannane, who serves as ASHA’s head chef. (Photographs by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville)