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Hernando Today

A Feast Of Falafel

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By TIM HEDIN

Special to Hernando Today

Published: May 14, 2008

When first arriving at Patrol Base Yusufiyah, September 2007, there was a quick realization that the standards of our cafeteria/dining facility (DFAC) food were often less than what one would feed to a pet dog.

So like the old saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans." But since we are in Iraq, we do as the Iraqis and partake of the falafel.

So what is falafel and how did this delicacy come to Iraq?

The falafel sandwich came to Iraq from Egypt in the late 1970s or early '80s. Saddam had millions of his men, essentially the majority of the workforce, fighting in the war against Iran. Because he needed laborers, he allowed millions of Egyptians to come into Iraq. From what the interpreter told me, there were other nationalities that Sadam allowed in, but were mainly Egyptians. They not only filled the void in the workforce, but also brought with them many of their own customs and, yes, the falafel.

The sandwich is made of pocket bread, fresh vegetables and a few small pieces of what I originally thought was deep-fried bread about the size and shape of a squished ping-pong ball. It actually turned out to be ground-up chickpeas formed into a ball and deep-fried. These are what the sandwich is named for. Some places where we would acquire the falafel would provide a mustard vinaigrette sauce to drizzle into the sandwich.

At least that's the best I could make of the sauce. The main ingredients other than the falafel are always lettuce, often cucumber, red or green bell peppers, tomatoes, and once I had pickled beets. The falafel, I'm told, has a special blend of spices, the ingredients of which, no one I talked to knows. The pocket bread is made at a local bakery. The vegetables are always fresh and taste better than any vegetables I have had since I was a child and picked them from my family's garden. The pocket bread and the falafel taste equally as good.

Some of us quickly discovered the Iraqi side of our patrol base where, in the depths of this large building tucked in the back, was a deli-like counter. The old tin building was originally the home of a potato-processing plant.

The building footprint is basically shaped like a "T." Both rectangular sections of the T-shaped building are at least the size of a football field. The building is riddled with bullet holes from a battle and seizure of it several years ago. At the counter in the corner all you have to say is "falafel" to the non-English speaking helper and in a few minutes he will hand over the falafel, which costs only a dollar and is much tastier and healthier than most meals at our DFAC.

As you stand at one side of the counter, to your back are about four rows of benches all facing the television hanging in the corner, always blaring out an Iraqi soccer game or a Baghdad variety show in Arabic. On the other side of the counter is open space for about 50 feet to another wall. The room is very dark with only one light burning behind the counter. It's the break area for the Iraqi soldiers who stay in the compound.

Often times on many of our patrols, we would receive the sandwiches from some of the townspeople. But, those are different stories to be told at different times. Until next time.

Tim Hedin is a Spring Hill resident currently serving as a medic in Iraq. He can be reached at ttime@usa.com.

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