La cuisine chez Fati

My Algerien friend/coworker Fatima invited me over for dinner last Saturday to try some couscous and traditional "Algerien" food. She lives in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, between Buttes Chaumont and La Parc de la Villette. The same park where they have those outdoor ciné films during the summer. It was a rough time trying to get there on time because I had to dodge and evade 2 muggers and a blind rapist, but I finally found myself outside of her apartment trying to get through the main door and having her shout down from her five-story window.

(I should also mention that prior to this, I spent the afternoon with Cici, her baby girl, and her sister at the pool near her house :) It was fun times)

As I entered the lobby of the apartment I could hear the voice of a little girl excitedly calling my name, and the echos that it created in the vast corridor. "Oui, j'suis là!" I responded, before I entered the elevator. As I got out, the little girl of 7 (Sabrina) dressed in a pink tshirt with the Disney princesses came out to meet me. She had missing teeth and hair up to the sky in tangles. It was quite a sight, and she was a bouncing ball of energy, even at 9 pm. But we bisoux-ed & Fati was waiting at the door. I entered the tiny Parisian apartment and saw that the table was already set -- adorned with fresh fruits, desserts, (a table cloth & silverware, even!) lots of amazing foods that seemed to me like a grand feast, even though it was just served for three semi-hungry girls. Fatima has been following Ramadan this entire month so she's been fasting from morning to sunset -- that's not until 9:30 pm that she can have anything to eat OR drink! Horrid, since she works at a bakery early in the morning, she can't even sleep in to curb her hunger, nor does she eat much at night anyway. I would keel over from fatigue.

We sat down to dinner together and I must have looked like I had just gotten out of World War II because I was wide-eyed and staring at everything in wonder. Playing on the television in the background were Arab soap operas, which reminded me funnily enough of dinners at my grandmothers' in Taiwan. No conversation, just dramatic music and glowing close-ups.

Salad of mixed veggies & shrimp.
MMmmmm avocado :)

Couscous with zucchini, carrots, and potatoes (also, cod)

The master chef!

Her daughter :)

We had coffee with baklava afterwards while watching the ridiculously dressed soap opera stars cheat on their 6 husbands with amnesia. It was a grand 'ol time with the girls. I had so much fun. Being able to exchange different cultures is one of my favorite things to do. If only I could show them Taiwanese breakfast! Sigh. One day :)