Hummus has become a world renowned side dish, where different shops, markets, and even countries compete on who has the better recipe for preparing my utmost favorite Middle Eastern side dish. In this post, I express my candid thoughts and feelings about Hummus (الحمص) while in the U.S.

Dear Lebanese Hummus (عزيزي الحمص اللبناني),

I took you for granted those many years in Beirut (بيروت). Although you were part of my everyday meals, sometimes for three times a day-breakfast (الفطور), lunch (الغذاء), and dinner (العشاء), and in a way part of my upbringing, I admit that many times I felt that I could not stand to see you. You were there from the very beginning. You’ve been there in all moments of joy, from my first birthday party (عيد الميلاد) to my wedding (الزفاف), from graduation parties (حفلات التخرّج) to celebratory family receptions (حفلات عائلية) in Lebanon. You were even there when loved ones passed on to the other side, and when new ones came into this world. While I have witnessed how my mother, mother in law, and countless restaurants around Lebanon clashed in kitchen wars to make you better for my satisfaction and taste buds, I never thought that there would come a day where I would be regretting those inexcusable moments in which I ditched you for something else. It’s only when I embarked on a journey searching for you in the U.S. that I came to realize my wrongdoings in Beirut. This realization has been painful and tiring, and all your temporary replacements in the U.S. will never have what you have got. Although my wife has somewhat convinced me that I am not looking hard enough to find you thousands of miles away from where you are and where you will always be, I have come to the conclusion that you are irreplaceable. For this I want you to know that I am regrettably sorry for ditching you, throwing you in the trash and for many times trying to replace you with fake hummus impostors in the U.S. I love you in all of your different states – with meat (اللحمة) and pine nuts (الصنوبر), with red pepper (الفلفل الاحمر), with cold yogurt (اللبن) and spices (البهارات), with parsley (البقدونس) and covered with olive oil (زيت الزيتون). I love you over breakfast, lunch, dinner and between meals.

When my wife and I return to see our families this summer, I know you will be there waiting as well. At every table that we will dine, you will be there front and center waiting to be appreciated and devoured day in, day out. I know you will be there in the mountains of Lebanon, at the shores of Beirut, around the ruins of Byblos (جبيل), Tyre (صور), and Baalbek (بعلبك), at mountain houses in the South (الجنوب) upwards to the North (الشمال), and around waterfalls in the Chouf (الشوف), waiting to greet me and my wife and there to witness our happy family moments all over again. When I think of Lebanon, I think of family, friends, and you. Although you are only made of what can be found elsewhere, chickpeas (الحمص), lemon juice (عصير الحامض), tahini (الطحينة), minced garlic (الثوم), salt (ملح), cumin (كمون), and water with sprinkles of paprika (فلفل) and dripping olive oil (زيت الزيتون), this particular combination makes you perfect. After hours and hours of looking for your replacement in the U.S., I have solace in knowing what keeps us apart is now smaller than what it was yesterday and will be smaller tomorrow than what it is after tomorrow. Thank you for sharing all our moments of joy and sorrow and thanks for always being there in the future and beyond.

Until we meet, my deepest affection and gratitude for all that you are,

Jesa

Image by Mr Hassan

Sahtein!!!

صَحتين

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