Lebanese Soul Food

Kibbeh.

When I say that word, it’s like invoking powerful magic. The word becomes a time machine and whisks me away to different times and places.

Most recently it takes me to a place that no longer exists. That would be the Movie Manor Restaurant in Monte Vista Colorado. This was one of those mom and pop places that was short on glitz and long on good food. It was throwback to another age.

Pictures lined the walls, some of them autographed. There was John Wayne in Old West clothing and Dorthy Lamour in a tight-fitting black gown. Another picture had Bob, Bing and Jane Russell. These and pictures of other actors and actresses were all over the dining room.

I’m not sure how many of these famous people actually ate there, but they might have. The restaurant was part of the Ski-Hi Drive in right next door. What made it unique was it was not only a drive in but had a hotel complex right behind it. From your room in the hotel, you opened your curtains, turned on the speaker in your room and watched the movie.

At one time, there was also a landing strip almost right behind the hotel. Celebrities and the like would fly in and stay there.

When we lived in Del Norte, the Movie Manor was our place to go have breakfast. It would be on a Sunday morning after church. We’d go there, walk in, and order off a menu we’d all memorized long ago. My favorite was two eggs over easy, a 1/4 pound kibbeh patty, hash browns, wheat toast, and lots of Jam. Sometimes, I’d order an extra kibbeh on the side.

So. What is a Kibbeh?

Kibbeh is Arabic Soul Food at its finest. Take lean ground hamburger, add Bulgur Wheat, spices, and enjoy. While I’ve had it only in patties, it can be made into balls, loafs, and so on. In some cases, it’s even stuffed.

There’s only about a million recipes on the internet for it.

I was raised on this food, and as a kid, eating kibbeh was a treat. I’d eat it raw it tasted so good. Of course, that meant a lecture that I’d get worms for eating it that way.

Getting it was a rarity.

What made it unique was the wheat. My grand aunt (a woman I’ve always known as Aunt Queenie) was the source of it. All we knew was she got it from someone in Walsenburg, Colorado.

That made sense since the Malouff’s first showed up in the Walsenburg area. I assume it was a relative. But who that person was, she never said. The way she made it sound acquiring the wheat was an adventure right up there with Mission: Impossible. For all I know, it was being brought in from the old country a few pounds at a time.

She died taking the contact with her.

Today, the Bulgur wheat can be purchased in almost any store today.

So, I think I’ll gather up my courage and make some.

I’ll let you know if it’s any good.

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