The Food of Food and Fadwa


The kitchen is the soul of the Palestinian home. Palestinians eat the same


food, and each Palestinian’smother’s food is the best - at least until one has a wife. Then, of course, thewife’s food becomes the best. The Palestinian sense of identity, of belonging, of home, of warmth, security, and joy is inextricably bound up with food. Despite the apparent similarity of the basic recipes, variations are inevitable. Each family has its own nafas, literally “breath,” but with the referential value that encompasses individual flair expressed in the special aroma, flavour, and taste of the cooked food. This individual aroma is distinctly sensed immediately upon entry into each home. Recipes passed by word of mouth and by example are handed down frommothers to daughters. Anewdaughter-in-lawbecomes anapprentice and soon the keeperof her new family’s culinary repertoire towhich she adds her own personal touch.


Dr. Ali Qleibo in “The Tradition of Palestinian Cuisine”


This culture of Palestinian food, as described by Dr. Qleibo, is Fadwa’s world. Each dish is prepared carefully, paired with stories of its origin and instructions for its perfect manufacture. At a celebration such as Dalal’s wedding, the cooking of the householdwould bedisplayed before the entire community.As Fadwa explains, “No food, no respect. Bad food, bad reputation. You will be the laughing stock of Bethlehem. It is vicious.” Below,Dr.Qleiboaddresses similar ideas of the importance of food preparation and presentation.


Each vegetable and meat recipe has its own specific form and shape which isdefined by rulesof choppingmeatorvegetables into the visually aesthetic but simultaneously edible size. The aesthetic rules encompass thedegreeof ripeness, the time the sauce is added, the typeof spice, and the final garnishing. If these rules are ignored itwould be at the expense of colour, texture, shape, consistency, and aromawithwhichedible food is associated. In such a case itmerits dismissal using themost dreaded adjective in the Arab kitchen; laghawees (inedible disgusting food), similar to the use of the word “gibberish” in the English language in reference to ameaningless string of English vocabulary.


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Photo Cred: StephanieWarren


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