In the shadow of an Israeli watchtower, Marwan al Ghoul has been quietly, carefully coaxing a farm out of the sand. You wouldn’t imagine that in Gaza, just meters away from the Israeli border and a stone’s throw from the ocean, fruits and vegetables would be thriving… yet, here they are. With one handful of Texas onion seeds, Marwan has … Read More
Stuffed Stomach in the West Bank… Literally
After a six month hiatus… Food Under Fire is back! In my time “off” I gave birth to a sweet baby girl, Mia; while it was certainly Parenting Under Fire, Sleeping Under Fire, and Diaper Changing Under Fire… I didn’t travel to any international foodie hotspots or warzone food carts, so this blog took a rest. Now it’s back to … Read More
Forshmak, Korushka, and Other Specialties in St. Petersburg
The greatest risk, when in search of a Russian meal, is of stumbling into a restaurant of gut-bombs: platters of cream-drenched chicken, iron crocks of cheese-laden something or other, hunks of greasy meat and bowls of doughy dumplings that turn into glue as soon as you digest them. The struggle is real. Which is why it was such a pleasure … Read More
Kurdish Cuisine… With a Side of Guilt
In the half-dozen trips I’ve taken to Kurdistan, not ONCE have we been able to finish the food on our table, whether we’re a party of two or of 8. Part of the charm and tradition of Kurdish hospitality is cooking and serving too much… that way if others drop by, there’s always some to spare. At Shkar Restaurant, a … Read More
Breakfast with the Iraqi Army
It was an early morning: we had loaded up our vehicles before dawn, and drove the 90 minutes through the dusty Ninevah plains to the joint operations center… where Iraqis, Kurds, and Americans are coordinating the Mosul offensive. By sunrise, it was already hot, and flies buzzed around our ears. While we discussed plans for the day, the Iraqi Army … Read More