Matt and I during his birthday lunch at his grandparent's
So, celebrating in Lebanon always means lots of food and the family around. Birthdays are no exception.
We have to begin with the "drink" complete wth kabbis, a lemon freshly picked from the tree is the garden, olives (of course), carrot sticks, stuffed and pickled eggplant, etc. Notice the obligatory glasses of arak!
Once we get to the table it has to be the tabboule and hommus that take centre stage. Anyone who knows anything about eating in Lebanon would know that each "Teta" (grandmother) takes great pride in her tabboule. All sons vow that, "Nobody's tabboule tastes as good as mum's!" And I know they're all right... As it happens, Matt's teta also makes her own hommus. This photo doesn't do it justice, it is a much richer colour than this; but you get the idea.
We were treated to a meal of fried fish and kibbe bi sanniyeh (a meat cake with an onion filling in the centre). There was easily enough food for at least ten, needless to say we were just five.
That's about right as far as meals in Lebanon go. You show the value of your guests (even if it's all in the family) by the amount of food piled high on the tables. But don't worry, none if it is wasted as leftovers are common fare on Mondays.
That's about right as far as meals in Lebanon go. You show the value of your guests (even if it's all in the family) by the amount of food piled high on the tables. But don't worry, none if it is wasted as leftovers are common fare on Mondays.
The plate next to the fish is filled with fried Arabic bread. It's the yummiest thing and we always come and steal pieces from the table before it's time to eat. The bowl on the right contains "tarratole" which is a sauce to accompany the fish made from PLENTY of garlic and sesame paste.
No birthday is complete without a cake. In this case it was a juicy strawberry tart. A good choice for such an important occasion.
Charles then poured the champagne to accompany the strawberry tart and to wish Matt a happy birthday. I know it's the old cliche, "It only seems like yesterday..." but it's true. I just don't know where these 18 years have gone. All those people who told me to, "Enjoy" those sleepless nights and teething rashes; perhaps they had a point. Of course, you can't see it at the time. Like most words of wisdom, they only make sense with hindsight.
Well, getting up from the table isn't always easy, but the smell of the coffee helps.
Well, Sacha! I hope you enjoy this because it's taken me more than an hour to fiddle with the darn photos and the uploading and the positioning, etc, etc.
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