Casablanca Mediterranean Grill in Southern California was the first restaurant I ever attended that served the ethnic food popular to my family’s cultural background: Lebanese and Syrian.
Although I am only 50% Arabic, I adopt most of the middle eastern traditions passed down by my father’s family. Ever since I turned 8 years old, I admired the different kinds of food my grandmother (or “sitto” in Arabic) made, and helped her prepare meals as much as I could.
For my grandfather’s 80th birthday party, my family and I ate at the Mediterranean Grill we only recently discovered. The waiter welcomed us with a kind smile as he held the door open. As my family rushed in like a stampede of hungry animals to find their seats, I remained standing at the doorway in excitement and anticipation. The friendly and calm atmosphere invited me in, and I walked to my seat in awe.
From my kitchen experiences with my grandmother, I had an idea of how much preparation time Lebanese meals require. After the host seated us, an hour passed before the appetizers arrived at our table. Our main dishes followed after another 50-minute wait.
While some of my family members grew impatient, I began to build a strong appreciation for the hard work my grandmother went through several times a month as she made dinner for the family. In her 70s and with a few physical problems, my grandmother does not move around the kitchen in an efficient manner for cooking any longer.
In addition to the meals, she must work around her house and take care of my grandfather (or “jiddo” in Arabic). With the knowledge of how much she goes through to make dinner in mind, eating together as a family feels all the more special.
At last, the waiter brought out the food and everyone began piling up their plates. To my surprise, I recognized all of the various dishes represented on our table, including some of my grandmother’s favorites. Out of all the choices presented to me, my favorite foods were the three that I had eaten many times in the past:
? Fattoush (fə-tūsh’), a Lebanese and Syrian salad made with mint, lemon juice, parsley, onions, olive oil, tomatoes and cucumbers;
? Tabbouleh (tə-ˈb