Bizarre foods of MENA

[allousa 1]

And I'm curious to know if any of you have experienced the same feelings as well in that now I have really begun to learn my husbands culture and experience it, I almost feel like I don't belong anywhere. What I mean is that in America, there is alot of prejudice against Arabs/Muslims because of 9/11. I mean open prejudice that people are proud of. And on the flip side, there are Arabs/Muslims that are very prejudice about Americans. I am so saddened by all of this because I really see us all as just the same. We might dress different, eat different or pray different. But we still have the same dreams and stuff. It's like I'm defensive of both sides and it makes me feel like I don't belong to either anymore.

Does that make sense, or am I rambling? It's getting late you know?

[allousa 1]

henia - Are Algerians close to Moroccans from a culture standpoint. I've met many ME people before, but not many Algerians. Just curious.

[deemabrouk 0]

Henia - even though I don't know any of you, I earnestly want all of you to be reconnected with your loved ones. Outside of my father's death, this has been the hardest to deal with. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Do you find when you try and tell people what you're going through, those that hear it for the first time...they always say, "Oh, I just thought you married someone and they come straight over?" If I had a dollar for every time that I've heard that!

deemabrouk - your wedding pics are really beautiful. What was your wedding like?

ha haa my wedding was out of control... nothing I could of imagined in my Whole life. I love my husband with all my heart for the wedding he gave me... He bent over backwards to give me the most amazing wedding I could of hoped for :)

1 band/ singer, another CrAzy singer, Swords on fire, Guys with drums, procession with a rose drink?, dancing, cake... And its all on video !!

[allousa 1]

That sounds really really fun! I did the big wedding when I got married the first time to an American guy. I just didn't want to do that again the 2nd time around. I had even said that before I met my now hubby. We just had a civil wedding, but the honeymoon...OFF THE HOOK!!!!

[Ban Hammer 13,396]

i'd so starve in mena

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

i'd so starve in mena

Yeah, no kidding. I've been a vegetarian for the past 10 years.

There are a lot of vegetable dishes, though.

And grains. Can't tell you how many different ways you can prepare rice and broken wheat.

[melly 0]

At the same French restaurant that I had the frog legs at, I also used to eat their calamari dore. It was sooooo good.

It's basically a squid "steak" and they cooked it in some kind of butter and garlic sauce. Just divine.

I also used to eat the liver there (with bacon on top). I actually liked it, but I probably wouldn't eat it plain.

[Henia 11]

henia - Are Algerians close to Moroccans from a culture standpoint. I've met many ME people before, but not many Algerians. Just curious.

LOL Ooooooooo no Algerians are in a class all their own As I am sure several ladies here can attest to. But generally Maghrebin (North Africans) are more similar to the naked eye then Mashreq (Middle Easterners) And as far as weddings are concerned they are way over the top (esp the dresses, which we actually had a thread about not too long ago).

Algerians believe that: spending the most money you can, being the noisiest and loudest, having ultimately worst singer at the female wedding party and serving the sweetest sweets are keys to a successful wedding and marriage and in essence something the family can be proud of.

Mother of the groom will "investigate" the family of the woman of her son's choice, to see if she suitable. If she is of good characher, the family will approached the woman's family to propose the union.

The groom has to walk with his familly members in the front (only men) and with his friends and relatives and they have to walk all of them to the house of the bride to ask for her hand ... and then you see a crowd of people walking together talking having nice chats and when they come to the door of the bride's house ... (In my case he walked from his cousin's house where he was stays until our wedding, to his house where I was with his aunts guarded me. LOL The fact that the groom comes walking from a certain place to another place (Bride's house) with the most closed people to him ( family, relatives, friends ) show's how much the bride means for him .. i believe that something like in US/Europe the act when the man goes on his knee for the Bride ... or when the father of the bride gives away his daughter in the church to her groom ...This begins the marriage process.

Then they will approach a imam, who will in turn "speak" with the couple about being married. And the imam will decide to marry them or not. The act d'mariage being signed weeks, months in some cases year in advance. After this the "engagement" begins. When the engagement is agreed upon, there will be a party to announce it. This is the first opportunity to celebrate publicly, and that means that a lot of people are invited to participate. TThe couple are allowed to speak, sit together (not alone of course) and to know each other. The shoura being gathered. The bridal dresses hand-stitched.

The traditional band playing in back of truck, leading the way for the caravan of brightly decorated (with flowers) cars, to collect the bride... horning all the way there, to inform the village/city that someone was getting married! Incidently all traffic stops, people cheer and look at throngs of horning Peugeots lined the roads as traffic made way for the bride's entourage! She sits in a car, with someone video taping her every move until she arrives. She is escorted to the salon (living room) which is so decorted with flowers, gold sparkly things... and whatever she requested.

The nikah and the Fatiha. And also the mahr is decided and given. After this they are basically considered married. Even if they had the act d'mariage before. My husband and I were separated for most of it and I had no clue what was going on. Until I suddenly heard you-yous and received rounds of mabrouks.Then I knew we were married. LOL

The older women weeks in advance (before the arrousa, wedding party) baking off tons and tons of baklava and makroud. A wedding meal is prepared. Usually couscous is served. Cakes, tea and coffee also. Large portions are given to the masjid (mosque) and peoples unable to attend. The meal is cooked in super-sized pots on burners hooked to gas on the floor. Usually a whole mutton is used or more depending on how many attend. At mine, there was 250, of which I knew 3. LOL And behind all that loud people, background noise and music there often are a number of little fights going on because someone got served before the other or because someone sat closer to the bride and groom. The bride is beautifully dressed in her best wedding dress, excesssive in my humble opinion, make-up, all her jewelery she was given she wears, also all her female relatives will give their own for her to wear (the more the better they say) and she is hennad designs on her hands and feet. A throne was set up for the newly weds in his houseand everyone offered their best wishes. She seats a decorated chair, basically honoured like a queen ... The groom sits next to her like some innocent bystanders in awe of his bride. LOL

The next day, the bride will wake up early to go to the hammam, to be pampered for the morning by her new female relatives. Usually they call this fête de henna. She will get her body scrubbed, body all waxed (to remove all of the bride's body hair before the wedding), her hair done and dressed up.I know my hairdo involved a hair piece and 70 pins. ((By the 4th day I just said FK no more)And in most cases this party lasts for days ... the is a party for the women, where the bride parades around in a succession of dresses. Mininum of seven, but as they say the more the better. The men usually have something set up outside, where they smoke and drink. Also many indulge in an afternoon at the hammam, telling nasty pre-wedding night stories my husband said.LOL More she has, the more the groom loves her.

The guests wore a diverse variety of clothing. We all had a "mechmoum" of jasmin behind our ears. The female guests usually arrive in their cover-up abayas and hijebs like some rich movie star escaping the paparazzi. Some of the older women wore outfits which covered their entire arms, and headscarves tucked tightly around the face to cover their hair.Weddings are also an opportunity to get ready for the next wedding season and fill up it's schedule, so girls put on all the makeup they have, wear as gaudy and many times little clothes as possible, show as much cleavage and thighs as they can and dance until they drop in an attempt to hook-up with one of the single (or married but ripe for divorce) perverts at the wedding. :lol:Yes, even thou the party is all-female guys (brothers, cousins, etc) do seem to show up for some reason or another.And even if none or not many show up, fotos are surely taken and passed around.. so they are seen. And maybe just maybe someone will find them attractive and approach them later on for marriage.

These parties typically last a few days, like a non-stop rave. Tea and various cakes are served.I know at mine, there are women making and serving coffee in shifts around the clock,so we all stayed up. There is much dancing involved and you-yous.Parading, caffeine from coffee and tea, high sugared sweets, adrendine, dancing, beating of duffs and drums, Andulz and many times Rai music... all spells trouble. LOL. Also there seems to be always a girl with the most make-up, the most peacockish outfit singing horribly, you would assume she was drunk (but of course being Muslim country no alochol was served)

On the last day, usually 4th or 5th, most important day of the wedding, the bride was to be given away to the groom, after maghreb they prepare to say farewell. The bride is dressed in the traditional Constantine or Kabliye dress, that does have weigh to it with all the metal-work and decorations. The bride was seen to represent a boat, sailing a bountiful load of happiness, wealth and health into the groom's family. It was a highly emotional ceremony as the womenfolk of the family cried as they 'gave away' the bride's hand in marriage. (but I didnt) I was so tiredThe womenfolk lined up to adorned the bride with jewellery, a truly emotionally charged moment.

The groom with then approach his bride and walk they shall walk out, husband and wife, whilst surrounded by cheering family members and friends. The couple will be photographed (traditions varied) by the groom's younger brother or cousin. Then the groom nervously awaits as the bride is dressed in her wedding night gown (also very extrangant) ... her make-up and hair retouch ed. The grooms enters, another set of fotos snapped (by the trusted male member). Then the couple begin their life together. The women thou stand outside of the door, waiting for any noises (like they did me) so they can make their you-yous ... The next morning, the women of the house greet the new wife with breakfast. Usually she is pampered for a few weeks afterwards. Soubhan'Allah (strange) yet so beautiful! I will never forget it! (And of course I cannot, fotos and videosThat is an (my) Algerian wedding)

Marocain and Tunezian weddings are somewhat like this too! Some wilder then others. But in Tunis huge mahrs and the multiple dresses are in fashion. The families rather put up the money for the couple's future, then the wedding.

Dee: Your wedding sounds lovely. I am so happy for you! I know how crazy-fun they can be. Mine was ummm... something like that

Waw that was totally OFF TOPIC and LONG... but anyway loved to relive that LOL

[Ban Hammer 13,396]

thank you henia for posting that! a very interesting and informative read

now for the dumb questions:

remove all of the bride's body hair? and i thought just a brazilian wax job sounded painful

about henia - what exactly does it signify? is there a set design or just at the whim of the one putting it on? and who puts on the henia? and why on the hands and feet? more details on that please

lol at you-you's

there often are a number of little fights going on because someone got served before the other or because someone sat closer to the bride and groom - sounds an awful lot like some american weddings there

[Henia 11]

thank you henia for posting that! a very interesting and informative read

now for the dumb questions:

remove all of the bride's body hair? and i thought just a brazilian wax job sounded painful

about henia - what exactly does it signify? is there a set design or just at the whim of the one putting it on? and who puts on the henia? and why on the hands and feet? more details on that please

lol at you-you's

there often are a number of little fights going on because someone got served before the other or because someone sat closer to the bride and groom - sounds an awful lot like some american weddings there

Well hopefully only my husband puts on HENIA ... but henna also known by its Latin name, Lawsonia Inermis, is also found in India, Asia and Australia. For centuries, a dye that is made from the leaves of this plant has been used to color nails, hands and feet, as well as other items such as cloth and leather goods. Today, henna is also a marketable ingredient in women's shampoo.

However, although the use of henna has branched out since its discovery in North Africa, its most popular use is still beautification. And although it was made famous by the Prophet Mohammad (saws), the artful use of the dye is largely a female affair. In some Islamic countries, the use of henna is reserved for the celebrations of Eid, weddings, pregnancy and birth, while in others it is used as an everyday beautification (Muhammad, p.4). In modern America it is a trendy "thing to do" among teenage girls. Further reading, see the source for the above: http://www.islamonline.net/english/Science.../article3.shtml

but Henia signifies the name my parents gave me.

MENA traditionally (also per the Hadiths) women completely go hairless, while men go hairless in the arm pits and privates.

Yes you-yous... Oook sleepy ... reason for short rely. Bonne nuit!

Edited June 23, 2007 by Henia

[Ban Hammer 13,396]

thanks henia for the info, i learned something today

[Henia 11]

thanks henia for the info, i learned something today

[sandinista! 1,816]

One time when his parents came to visit us, it was the first time that I had met them. This was after we were married but before he got stuck in Morocco. We were sitting around resting after having dinner and my husband just came right out and asked his mom what kind of foods would help with his "stamina". I just about spit my tea out!!! But she just started naming off stuff and how to prepare it and they both had this big conversation about it. I could tell my father-in-law was getting a kick at how I was red-faced about it.

Since then, I've gotten comfortable at how open they are about stuff like that.

Yeah...Arab men don't play with the whole "stamina" bit. But none that I've ever known would ever consider taking something "pharmaceticul' to help. Funny huh?

Would you say that it's true...that once you go Arab, you'll never go back to anything else? lol

bleh.

i find this kind of compartmentalizing, fetishizing, generalizing about entire ethnic groups utterly repugnant and distasteful. once i met MY HUSBAND i'll never go back to ever even thinking about any man that isn't him. his ethnicity is besides the point. ethnicity as a factor for who you form relationships with? sounds bigoted to me.

You don't even know me and yet call me a bigot. That's funny. I actually have a "COEXIST" bumper sticker on my car. The comment about not going back to anything but Arab is not a sexual remark. I think most of us on this site would agree that the Arab culture that we've come to know is far more enchanting than anything we've known. At least it is for me. I was married to a good 'ole boy American and was not anywhere near happy as I am now. I've learned so much about the world (not just Arab culture) and I could never go back to who I was before.

I find your passing judgment on someone that you know nothing about repugnant and distasteful.

Omigod, a COEXIST sticker! Well why didn’t you say so! That means you can make as many asinine statements as you want and never have to be called on it. It’s just as effective as “I can’t possibly be a racist, I have friends that are black”. Exactly what does yr former husband’s nationality have to do with anything discussed here? Why would you even bring it up? Are you trying to say there was something inherently wrong with him, something inferior about him because he was American? Arabic culture’s no cooler or less cool than any others. Culture seems a pretty strange thing to play “more or less” ratings games with, or at least it seems so to me. I guess that’s because I’m not a cultural elitist, consciously or not. Asserting the virtues of Arabic culture does not come at the cost of denouncing your own or any others.

“Yeah...Arab men don't play with the whole "stamina" bit” = “Yeah....black men sure can play basketball” = “Yeah...Asians sure don’t play around when it comes to math scores”.

Gross. Not cool. When I heard a colleague at work, who had recently been dating an African-American man, announce that “once you go black, you never go back” I was just as repulsed. Reducing individuals, human beings to such a small component as their skin colour or the ethnic group they happened to be born into and as such has a rather insignificant impact on their individual character is inherently wrong.

[Henia 11]

Waooow oooooooooook... does anyone have chill pills to pass around?

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

Waooow oooooooooook... does anyone have chill pills to pass around?

Well, you gotta admit, they are making a good point.

I also kinda cringed when the other poster made mention of their Coexist sticker.

But back to MENA foods!!!!

My favourite dish ever, is tabouleh. YUM. With all sortsa lettuce and that garlicy yogurt stuff with cucumbers in it.