From the kitchen of the Grand Hyatt Amman, where I sampled dish after delicious dish of regional food.

According to Islamic rule, Muslims observing Ramadan should not consume food or drink while the sun is in the sky. The evening meal during Ramadan, Iftar, happens as soon as the sun goes down. Iftar is often referred to as breakfast, due to the fact that it’s the meal that literally breaks the fast of the day.

The staff at our hotel has been extremely helpful in getting us acquainted with the culture, cuisine, and customs of this country and the region. Tonight, Head Chef Rabah pointed out some of the highlights of the Iftar buffet: shawarma, falafel, endless breads, cheeses, vegetables, and countless desserts. Appetizers, also known as mezze, are very popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. At this Iftar dinner, there was so much mezze, that it could a been a meal on its own.

Since I was counting the minutes until I could break my fast, I was eager to try everything the chef recommended. Of the dishes he showed us, my favorite was sajj, which is similar to a stuffed, savory crepe. Loaded-up with a choice of fillings and grilled, my custom-made crepe had cheese, spinach, lamb, and a spicy thyme sauce.

After indulging in the Iftar meal, Chef Rabah, arranged some cooking lessons for us. Adam learned how to make yolangi (or yallangi). These stuffed grape leaves are one of my favorite dishes. Eaten in Greece, Turkey, and throughout the Middle East, this is a very popular regional dish.

I learned how to make the traditional Egyptian dessert, om aly (or um ali). It’s similar to a bread pudding, but made with puff pastry instead of bread. Om aly contains some of my favorite ingredients: coconut, almonds, pistachios, and, most importantly, a healthy dose of sugar.

Up Next: Hear some Middle Eastern Music.

© ProjectExplorer,org, 2009-present. All Rights Reserved.