6 years ago, on our first trip to Jordan, I wrote about The Mother of all Dinners, when we were invited to share an Eid dinner with the family of one of Josh’s Jordanian friends. Josh meets up with him every time he comes to Jordan so he messaged Mohammed last week saying we’d be in town and we know it’s Ramadan, but we’d love to see him if he has time. He responded with an invitation for the 7 of us (the 5 of us plus Josh’s parents) to join their family for Iftar (fast breaking) dinner one evening.
The previous time was so memorable that Caleb, who was only 7 then, and barely remembers anything about our early days in the Middle East, asked, “Is this the place where we ate until we were stuffed and they still tried to feed us more?” Yes, that was it, baby. We briefed Josh’s parents on pacing and eating slowly and making sure to leave food on your plate or risk getting served another full portion, and we set off.
We reunited with the family — the last time we visited, the 6 year old boy was an infant and the youngest sister spent the evening entertaining baby Camille and playing with the boys. Other than the kids getting older and bigger, not much has changed. They spent the entire night playing cards, playing football (soccer) together, and chasing and cuddling the 5 kittens.
So the food: I didn’t take any photos, because I’m not a food photographer, but I probably should have. We went to a very expensive hotel buffet the night before and while that food was good (and fancy), this was a feast that I would have eaten over and over. Since it was BBQ night, there were grilled lamb chops, skewers full of lamb and chicken cubes, kebab (seasoned ground beef and lamb patties that look like mini burgers), grilled onions, tomatoes, and chilis, both whole and chopped into a salsa-type side dish and then a bunch of salads like arugula with balsamic vinegar, chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, corn, bell peppers and olives (I think — I can’t remember exactly what was in it, but I ate a bunch of that one), and my favorite mutabel, along with homemade olives, pickles, flatbread and a few other things that were at the other end of the table.
Carter ate everything they threw at him and asked for more. I was happy to have him as a buffer/distraction so I could eat some of mine, eat some extra from Camille’s plate and get full without feeling like I was wasting food. As the honored guest mom (Barbara) was served enough meat for 3 people, but she gave it a valiant effort and got through most of it.
After the main dinner we had chocolates and coffee (and sodas or juice). Then the first dessert was served, Nights of Lebanon, which was an unsweetened custard/pudding covered with pistachios and sugar syrup poured over the top. Since I am now wise to their ways, I knew that there was still more to come and I didn’t over consume. About 20 minutes later came the fruit course: a platter filled with watermelon slices and rock melon cubes, both of which were perfectly ripe and exactly what I was craving after the sweets. Finally came the last dessert (and by now it’s 11:30 at night) which might have been my favorite thing of the night — these half moon shaped sweets look like a pancake that has been stuffed and folded in half, then baked/fried and soaked in sugar syrup. Inside is either a walnut, coconut, and spice mix or (my favorite) a salty cheese that gives the perfect salty, sweet, creamy balance that contrasts with the crispy edges of the pancake. And now I’m hungry again.
We had a wonderful evening of eating, talking, laughing and catching up until we finally headed home at midnight, since we still had an hour drive back to the Dead Sea. It was a perfect evening with people who treat us like family every time we see them.
Moon over the dead sea — this photo is a pale comparison to seeing it in real life.