My tour in Afghanistan is not complete without having to write about food. The name "Cesa" is a synonym for food. Anyone who have ever asked for my name always asked what my name stands for. Finally I came up with a definition, the word "Cesa" means food expert. Of course, I may not know all about food but I can tell you that the bond between "Cesa" and food is so tightly sealed that my name will not exist without food. Luckily am in a profession that will not allow me to be obese, if not in this present job, I would probably be about 300 pound by now. And if I would have to commit one of the deadliest sins I would pick gluttony. With all that said, I wanted to write about Afghanistan food.
I am not as fortunate to really indulge myself with Afghanistan food because I am limited to where I can go. I am not allowed off the camp unless if we are going to a mission or advising at the the Afghan National Army (ANA) base. Detours are limited to the Airport or smaller friendly forces camps. The only food I can really experience is what is brought to me by the Afghan army counterparts whom I work with or the food at the dinning facility at the ANA compound. Nevertheless, I consider it as an Afghanistan food experience. There are three favorite food in Afghanistan I really like, the well known "Beef Kebab", a dish called "Mantu" and the best ever crepe looking food called "Balani".
I am very happy to say that have pictures of both the "Mantu" and "Balani" in which I can post and share. However, I do not have a picture of the "Beef Kebab" but kebabs all look alike in my opinion. Kebab is a dish where a piece of bamboo skewers or some sort of stick is inserted with different type of proteins, i.e. chicken, beef, pork and even vegetables. The different technique of applying flavor to the kebab is what makes it unique to a particular place. I love the flavor of the "Beef kebab" in Afghanistan and sometimes I wish someone would show me what spices are used to flavor the meat. My team jokingly says, "The meat used for the kebab are the Trash Goats" remember my story about "Trash" goats on the road, and I do not agree. I have to justify that the meat used is beef by pointing out to the cows as we passed them during our convoy back to the camp. Besides, I would know what goat taste like I had goat meat before but with the different spices used on the kebab maybe it is difficult for me to detect the difference between goat or beef. Moving on to my next favorite food called the "Mantu".
The closest description of a "Mantu" is a dumpling or the famous chinese dish called "shomay", basically it is a form of thin wrapping or very thin like dough that is stuffed with meat and herbs. This particular dish have chick peas and yogurt. And it sure yummy in my tummy. The next dish I want to talk about is the "Balani".
Balani is a thin looking pancake or better known as crepes. This particular dish is embedded with either green onions or potatoes. The sauce is either soy sauce with spices and onions, or a sauce made with crushed up chillies (Red Pepper). My team sure enjoy this dish and we always look forward to someone's going away party because this dish sure is always present. Lastly, I wanted to talk about the food at the Afghan dinning facility.
My Colonel at the division would invite the advisors for lunch at the mess hall and only those brave ones will go because some of my team members have stomach problems when they eat at this facility. The food is so good it always made me think of "Oxtail Soup". The menu is always a beef stew type of dish, then rice, bread and vegetables---whatever is available that day. I really like the eggplant cooked in tomato sauce which I may have to recreate when I have my kitchen--"So missing my kitchen." Eight months of not cooking is depressing and so bad for my health. Anyways, bottom line, food is not just food is another way of communicating to others. Even if one cannot speak the language or the dialect, it easier to have a great time when there is good food, the end results "Camaraderie" is formed. Anyone for seconds:)
