You were expecting it, non? Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker spend “A Night in Tunisia”:
Love that song. But I’ve never been to Tunisia.
Tunisia, country of North Africa. Tunisia’s accessible Mediterranean Sea coastline and strategic location have attracted conquerors and visitors throughout the ages, and its ready access to the Sahara has brought its people into contact with the inhabitants of the African interior.
According to Greek legend, Dido, a princess of Tyre, was the first outsider to settle among the native tribes of what is now Tunisia when she founded the city of Carthage in the 9th century bce. Although the story is certainly apocryphal, Carthage nonetheless grew into one of the great cities and preeminent powers of antiquity….
www.britannica.com/...
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Of course Rome had to get involved...
From early antiquity, Tunisia was inhabited by the indigenous Berbers. Phoenicians began to arrive in the 12th century BC, establishing several settlements, of which Carthage emerged as the most powerful by the 7th century BC. A major mercantile empire and a military rival of the Roman Republic, Carthage was defeated by the Romans in 146 BC, who occupied Tunisia for most of the next 800 years….
en.wikipedia.org/...
I just love ancient ruins, don’t you?
Tunisian Shakshuka for two [4:19]:
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Tunisian literature exists in two forms: Arabic and French. Arabic literature dates back to the 7th century with the arrival of Arab civilization in the region. It is more important in both volume and value than French literature, introduced during the French protectorate from 1881.[193]
en.wikipedia.org/…
I just love this building:
Hmmm… Makrouna? Macaroni? I wonder...
Every culture has a culinary staple- whether it’s rice, beans, pasta, or something else. Couscous may get all the attention as Tunisia’s national dish, but makrouna is the silent star, feeding families on a regular basis all across the country from north to south, east to west. It’s not particularly grandiose but it’s nourishing, comforting, and just the right recipe to inaugurate Our Tunisian Table. Bon appétit!
www.ourtunisiantable.com/...
[7:03]
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Even Westernized Tunisians adhere to certain traditional values; foremost among these is the role of the family as the centre of social life. Meals are an important time for families to gather. Tunisian cuisine consists of a medley of European cuisine—largely French and Italian—and traditional dishes. As in the rest of the Maghrib, couscous, a semolina-based pasta, is a staple of virtually every meal and is customarily served with a rich stew.
www.britannica.com/...
Take 30 seconds to watch this: you won’t be disappointed.
Tunisian Couscous with Fish (M’raika sfaxia) [7:27]:
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Dotted with the ruins of ancient civilizations, Tunisia is an important location for the study of world archaeology and architecture. Among the most significant of its numerous historic sites are Al-Zaytūnah Mosque in Tunis, which dates to the 8th century ce, the slightly older Great Mosque of ʿUqbah ibn Nāfiʿ in Kairouan, and the remains of the ancient city of Carthage.
www.britannica.com/...
In the video, she’s using lamb, but Wiki says Kamounia is usually made with beef. This
traditional dish of Tunisian cuisine [...] has the major influence of cumin powder and is supremely tasty. This dish is also prepared in Egyptian cuisine, but the Tunisian version is spiced with Harissa and cumin powder [...] This stew is best enjoyed with rice.
recipes.timesofindia.com/...
Beef or lamb, it looks delicious [6:04]:
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Even Tunisia has a winter chill.
People might think of Tunisia as a tropical place, but the fall and winter months can get quite damp and cold. [...] (The houses there are designed perfectly for the summer heat, but the chilly winters? Not so much...)
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And then there's lablebi [….] Lablebi is traditionally served quite simply, as it's a dish meant to provide sustenance for cold days, using frugal ingredients. Chickpeas and their spiced broth provide a hearty dose of protein and stale bread is brought back to life in the liquid.
www.ourtunisiantable.com/...
Gotta love chickpeas.
And hot seasonings like harissa.
Lablabi is known as the food of champions in Tunisia. It's a hearty dish that is sure to get you through winter. The chickpea broth is poured on small dried pieces of bread and then it is topped with olives, capers, soft boiled eggs, harissa, cumin, olive oil, and if you want tuna or hargma (slow cooked calf or lamb trotters). Mix it together to get all the flavors to mingle, then enjoy a hearty winter dish that has the best flavors of North Africa and the Mediterranean.
From the YouTube description
[7:04]
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From north to south, the cork oak forest of the Kroumirie Mountains, with its fern undergrowth sheltering wild boars, gives way to scrub and steppes covered with esparto grass and populated with small game and to the desert, where hunting is forbidden so as to preserve the remaining gazelles. Scorpions are found in all regions; among dangerous snakes are the horned viper and the cobra. Desert locusts sometimes damage crops in the southern part of the country.
www.britannica.com/...
Is this gorgeous, or what?
Here’s another recipe that can be vegetarian...or not, your choice.
This is a popular Tunisian dish, that is really easy to prep and extremely flavorful. The cooking process might not be typical but I promise you, you're going to love it.You can add your favorite vegetables. It can be also made with chicken, seafood, beef, lamb, or completely vegetarian.
From the YouTube description
[3:11]
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So c’mon in the cafe and grab a cuppa…
...and a nice nosh…
...and join us!
New Day Cafe is an open thread. What do you want to talk about today?