Writing / THE LANGUAGE OF BAKLAVA, a memoir
THE LANGUAGE OF BAKLAVA, a memoir

Now available in paperback from Anchor Books/Random House

My childhood was made up of stories-the memories and recollections of my father's history and the storybook myths and legends that my mother brought me to read. The stories were often in some way about food, and the food always turned out to be in some way about something much larger: grace, difference, faith, love. This book is a compilation of some of those family stories as it traces the ways we grew into ourselves. I believe the immigrant's story is compelling to us because it is so consciously undertaken. The immigrant compresses time and space-starting out in one country and then very deliberately starting again, a little later, in another. It's a sort of fantasy-to have the chance to re-create yourself, but it's also a nightmare, because so much is lost.

To me, the truth of stories lies not in their factual precision but in their emotional core. Most of the events in this book are honed and altered in some fashion, to give them the curve of stories. Lives don't usually correspond to narrative arcs, but all of these stories spring out of real people, memories, and joyously gathered and prepared meals.

I offer my deepest gratitude to the friends and family I write about in these pages and give thanks to everyone who knows we each have a right to tell our stories, to be truthful to our own memories, no matter how flawed, private, embellished, idiosyncratic, or improved they may be. I also offer apologies to all the dear ones whose experiences I may have shared and recorded here without asking permission. I offer up these memories in hopes that others will feel invited or inspired to conjure up and share their own. Memories give our lives their fullest shape, and eating together helps us to remember.

Looking for a signed copy?

For a limited time, you can order a signed copy of The Language of Baklava courtesy of Books & Books in Miami. To order your copy, just send an e-mail to Mitchell Kaplan at kaplan296@aol.com.

Praise for The Language of Baklava

"Abu-Jaber's sly, poetic precision will leave readers breathless."

— Booklist (Starred Review)

Table of Contents (Including Recipes)

Foreword xi

Raising an Arab Father in America 3
"Eat It Now" Shish Kabob
Peaceful Vegetarian Lentil Soup

Hot Lunch 20
Nostalgic Chicken Livers
Bud's Special Rice for Special Company

Native Foods 30
Comforting Grilled Velveeta Sandwiches
"Forget Me Not" Sambusik Cookies
Amazing Arabic Ice Cream
Sentimental Hot Chocolate
Bedouin Mensaf Leben

A House and a Yard 71
"Distract the Neighbors"Grilled Chicken
Mrs.Manarelli's Civilized Panna Cotta

Madama Butterfly 88
The Tenderest Angel Food Cake
Gram's Easy Roast Beef

Mixed Grill in the Snow 110
Barbaric Lamb Kofta
Mad Genius Knaffea

Magloubeh and the Great Diplomat 124
"Start the Party"Hummus
Diplomatic Magloubeh

Country Life 134
Lost Childhood Pita Bread
Subsistence Tabbouleh

Runaway 144
"Lounging with the Ladies"Grasshoppers
Magical Muhammara

Stories, Stories 153
Bud's Royal Mjeddrah

Immigrants' Kids 160
"In Honor of Mr. Basilovich"Cabbage Rolls

Restaurant of Our Dreams 168
Very Fried Falafels
Perfectly Tender Bamia

The Language of Baklava 178
Shaking Tea Infusion (Modern Version)
Mona Lisa Cream Puffs
Poetic Baklava

Bad American Girl 194
Cowboy Kibbeh

Food and Art 203
Improvisation Sandwiches
A Perfect Glass of Araq
"Stolen Boyfriend" Baba Ghanouj

Candy and Lebeneh 213
Homecoming Fatteh

A New World 230
"Invite the Audience" Tomato Chicken Mensaf

The Best Cook in the Family 234
Chicken Msukhan for Richer or Poorer
Innuendo Squash

House of Crying 251
Spinach-Stuffed Fetayer for Those in Search of Home

Once upon a Time 263
Fattoush: Bread Salad
The Uncles' Favorite Mezza Platter
Garlic-Stuffed Roasted Luxurious Leg of Lamb

Just a Taste 284
Fatherly Fried Eggs

Beyond the Land of Duty-Free 307
Mo Kadeem's Roasted Fish in Tahini Sauce

HTML 317
Ful for Love

The First Meal 324
Acknowledgments 329