The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-07-07
A Turkish Dinner.

There is no table-cloth, but everything
is neatly arranged upon the polished met
al. Before each guest is piece of ordi-
nary Bread flap of unleavened dough
slightly baked, and looking like mottled
leather-and two spoons, one of them in
box or horn, and the other, more delicate,
in tortoise shell, the handle ornamented
with coral and mother-of-pearl Some
times these spoons have a little crooked
branch of coral at the tip to avert the evil
eye. Each person is provided with a
small, ring.shaped cake, called "Semitt, -
some pieces of which are always taken be-
fore the Ramazan dinner, as well as a small
quantity Of condiments, such as caviar,
olives and salted and dried mutton, cheese
or pickle. At the table which | am de-
scribing these "horsd 'euvre" were spread
about in abundance, surrounding a hand
some silver stand, holding covered cups
filed with excellent lemonade, of which
each guest partook; and then, the stand
being removed, stout negress deposited
in its place with an air Of triumph, large
tureen filed with delicate white soup.
The spoons are raised in expectation; it is
Besme Hanum who rcsolutely tucks up
her right sleeve above the elbow, and, as
mistress of the ceremonies, is the first to
dip into the tureen, murmuring the custo-
mary invitation "bouyouroun," at which
all the spoons join company; and after
few minutes of silence well employed, the
soup is borne away, to make room for u
turkey stuffed with rice, currants, fr.nut,
and spices, Very little is taken from each
dish, as their number and variety are
infinite, but each one is tasted, and little
excursions are made between whiles among
the saucers-a pinch of salad from one,
preserved fruit from another, then NOR
sci torn as delicately as possible from the
centre dish of fowl, taking in passing dip
into the curdled milk, or favor of pickle
or red pepper; then back again to the
middle Of the table, which exhibits proba-
bly, by this time mound of luscious
pastry Vegetables form an important
part of the Turkish culinary system you
may frequently count a dozen varieties at
the same time, besides many herbs and
plants OF which We have no knowledge on
our western tables. They use, according
to the season, marsh-mallow leaves, Gu
cumbers, vine leaves, cabbage, or even the
half open bud of the gourd or melon, to
form the "dolmas" stuffed with rice and
chopped meat, which never fail to make
their appearance at every repast. In
serving dinner, il is considered the right
thing to alternate the sweet and the
savoryi thus our turkey is followed by
"baclawa, rich pastry composed of flour,
butter, and pounded almonds soaked in
honey; after this the "tcheurek" puff
paste filed with cheese and herbs; a dish
of fried fish yields the place of honor to
the "ekruek- -kadaiff," or thin pancakes
interlarded with Jumps of clotted cream;
and to this again succeeds mound Of ar
tiehokes dressed in OIL The "aschourah,"
a sweet pOrridge, which makes its appear.
ance upon most festive occasions, deserves
few words of explanation, as this prepa-
ration has legendary origin. "Aschou-
rah' is composed Of Indian wheat, barley,
wheat, dried raisins, nuts, almonds, wal
nuts, pistachio-nuts, and even dry Wind
sorand haricot beans, boiled and sweetened;
the greater the variety and incongruity of
the ingredients the better the ''aschourah,n
for it is remembrance, says the legend,
of Noah residence in the ark, ''into which
the water must have penetrated at length,
and produced an unexpected soup among
the remnants Of his dry stores" "As-
chourah" is made in great quantities in all
respectable houses during the first ten days
of the month of Mouharem (the first month
of the year, to be sent about to friends
and to be literally distributed to the poor.
AT this period, any persons presenting
themselves at the door Of a "kouak"
receive, without question, a bowl of
"asehourah," in remembeauce of the
tragical deaths Of Hassan and Hossein.
grandsons ofthe Prophet Our repast was
concluded by sherbet accompanying the
pillaf, and then each guest rose, with little
ceremony, to wash her hands over the
handsome silver basins held BY the attend
ant slaves, or at the marble fountain let
into the wall Of the ''sofa. ."-Loaolon
Society.