Afghan Lunch

Thought I'd share a couple of lunch stories... no martini lunches here.

Picture #1: Luncheon for one of the military guys heading home. Served: Dirty rice (brown rice, not literally although I'm not betting on that) and a big old lamb shank, very traditional. In the picture I'm sharing with Lieutenatn Malave... a great young Air Force officer whose cute little Lieutenant wife is with him over here too, their 1 year old daughter living with Gramma in Puerto Rico. This meal, we ate with our hands in the traditional way. I don't particarly like that, but I was a guest and behaved as my Mother taught me.

Picture #2: Started as a meeting in the Director, Afghan Anti-Crime office to discuss biometrics (you're on your own for that one, google it if you wish). The US has spent a whole lot of money over here to develop a biometrics capability and now they want to see results. The high ranking civilian (2nd to right) was sent to get that message across. So, as the discussion was going strong in the Director's office, he informed us we were going to a local restaurant for lunch. He should have said banquet. So, we all walked over the restaurant located on what we call "Chicken Street" not far from the Ministry. Needless to say, there an impressive entourage of Afghan security forces walking us back/forth and safeguarding us during lunch. Here's what was served.

• A mango/yogurt drink they called juice... more like a milkshake. They then told me to add apple juice which I found strange but did as I was told. Oh my, delicious
• Variety of amazing flat breads
• Spicy bean soup... just delicious
• "Mantu"... my favorite. This is like a dim sum/large tortellini. It's filled with spiced ground lamb, and served in a spiced yogurt sauce with a type of bean
• Afghan rice, a white saffron rice with shredded carrots and yellow peppers and raisins
• An array of kabobs: beef, chicken, lamb and then a variety of other cooking style of the same... oh my, all delicious. Each was served on a large serving tray and there was lots of yogurt for dipping. It just kept coming
• Dirty rice, no clue what's in it but delicious
• Fruits: asian pear, orange

We took the above picture after our gluttonous lunch. That's me in the middle, Director of Criminal Investigation to my right; Director of Anti-Crime to my left, then Mr. Tyson, then Chief, Biometrics Anwar. Standing to left: Chief of Forensics, Ayaz and Lt Col Cris M who works biometrics for the coalition. This was not a cheap lunch; however, I never saw money exchange hands which concerns me. Still, an amazing dining experience I'll never forgot and probably never finishing digesting.

Sorry for the delay in blogs. I picked up a spot of the typhoid, but cleared that up pretty quick with some serious antibiotics. Then, I couldn't get the blog site to open up because our internet has been stupid slow of late. Somehow snuck in this morning.

BIG BLOG HUG TO MY GOOD FRIEND MARY RYAN, recovering from major knee surgery back in my old Alexandria, VA neighborhood. A most speedy recovery to you dear friend.