Food & Gourmet Items

Item Description

Presented by the Arab American Bar Association of Illinois (AABAR)

Hosting some friends for a social gathering? Let us walk you through an evening filled with the beauty and richness of the Arabic culture, where hospitality is everything. Make sure to shower your guests with food and drink during the three stages of a gathering: Welcome, Sit and Stay. Never rush the stages and never concede to your guests claiming they are not hungry. There is no such thing.

Stage One: The Welcome. Be the ultimate greeter and ensure a heartfelt welcome. 

• Arabic Dallah and Finjan (Set of 12): A Dallah is a traditional Arabic coffee pot used for centuries to brew and serve Qahwa (gulf coffee) in beautiful ornate miniscule cups called Finjan. This is presented as your guests walk through the door.
• Qahwa, Briki, and Cardamon: Try our version of Coffea Arabica made from your personal Briki coffee pot, to be poured from your beautiful Dallah. Arab countries throughout the Middle East have developed unique methods for brewing and preparing coffee. Cardamon is an often-added spice, but it can alternatively be served plain. This isn’t your typical Cup of Joe. This welcome-coffee is served in small doses to start the night with a kick. We don’t want to hear that you are tired.
• Dates, Olives, and Spicy Gourmet Nut Mix: Make sure to couple your greeting with a little sweet treat like dates. Dates have been a staple food of the Middle East and the Indus Valley for thousands of years. There is archaeological evidence of date cultivation in eastern Arabia between 5530 and 5320 BC. Upgrade your charcuterie board with our world-renowned dates and spicey gourmet nut mix as well as green olives from Palestine and dried black olives from Turkey.

Stage Two: Sit. Eat, eat, and eat the night away.

• Bottle of Chateau Ksara Wine: Be original and serve this gem with your meal. A grotto dating back to the Roman era was unearthed in 1898. When it became apparent that the caves were ideal for keeping the wine at the correct temperature, monks would produce the wine and store it in caves in Beqaa Valley, Lebanon.
• The Palestinian Table (Cookbook) by Reem Kassis: Don’t have Great-Grandma’s recipes from the old country? No worries. This cookbook will walk you through centuries-old recipes that will make each meal feel like it came from Heaven. And, yes, Anthony Bourdain has given it a thumbs up!
• Falastin (Cookbook) by Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley, with Forward by Yotam Ottolenghi: Follow this cookbook to learn how Palestine weaves stories and cooking into the fabric of its identity, with a touching forward by Jerusalem’s renowned Jewish chef, Yotam Ottolenghi.
• Essential Spice Collection: Sumac, Cumin, Nutmeg, and Turmeric are included so you have some of the most prevalent Middle Eastern spices at your fingertips.
• Al Bawadi Grill Catering Gift Certificate ($150.00): Not in the mood for cooking? Treat you and your guests to a catering package from the famous Al Bawadi Grill, whose menu offers a selection of kebabs and seafood to an array of vegetarian items, ranging from familiar dishes, such as hummus, falafel and tabouleh to more traditional delicacies.
• Za’atar and Olive Oil: This is a keeper and a morning, midday, or evening snack that can be prepared in seconds! Dip a little oven toasted pita into some olive oil and za’atar and there you go!
• Jordan Habash Mint Tea and Al-Kbous Black Tea, and Yemen Tea Glasses (Set of 6): Nothing goes better with za’atar and olive oil like a cup of hot Arabic mint tea or black tea from Jordan (for breakfast, lunch, or dinner). Serve with fresh mint leaves in your own tea glasses from Yemen.
• The Hummus and Falafel Kit: Try making this on your own because why not? Included are the essentials: tahini, chickpeas, lemon juice, and falafel mix (dress with garlic and olive oil)!
• Halva and Baklava: Once your guests have had their fill, make sure to offer some of our famous Halva with pistachio from Turkey and Baklava from Jordan, the ultimate pastries.

Stage Three. Stay. Now that everyone is fed, fill your cups, play some music, and dance through the night!

• Bottle of Arak: Commonly served in social settings and gatherings, this drink from Beirut, Lebanon is famous for its potency. Arak has a particularly high alcohol content, so water and ice are almost always added to dilute it. The strength of the drink was responsible for its nickname, “The Milk of Lions,” in the Middle East.
• Tabla: Its Tabla time! The Tabla, meaning drum in Arabic, is a small percussion instrument shaped almost like an hourglass and it dates back over 1,000 years. The hip-shaking beats behind Shakira’s famous 2020 Superbowl Halftime Show can be attributed to the Tabla. Play it for your guests and dance the night away.
• Middle East Music (CD): In case your Tabla skills need practice, push play for Arabic music instrumentals that will take your breath away.
• Belly Dance Hip Scarf: With good food, music, and friends, give your hip-shake an extra WOW with this traditional hip scarf. Go ahead, be the star of the night.
• Keffiyeh: For the non-belly-dance-hip-scarf wearers, own your own traditional Arabic headdress that originated in the Arabic Peninsula to provide protection from sunburn and sand. It has since become a modern scarf accessory throughout the world.

Item Special Note

Item contains alcohol. Proof of age required prior to receipt.