After being separated for over two years during the Pandemic, we were finally able to reunite for five weeks in Dubai. Lindsay's parents visited for the first portion of the trip, finally able to meet Moustafa. Christmas was around the corner, and Lindsay was excited to share this holiday for the first time with Moustafa.
Moustafa's workplace, nook, was throwing a Christmas party and he made sure that Lindsay was included. A Christmas tree was decorated in the communal kitchen area, around which we sang Christmas Carols, and played team games. Lindsay's knowledge of winter and xmas all came in handy, leading her team to victory.
On Christmas day, Lindsay planned an enormous meal for Moustafa, his roommates and their family, and his closest friends. She shopped at Carrefour, trying her best to recreate a Canadian-style Christmas feast with the options available at the grocery store. After much searching, and a few substitutions, it all came together.
The menu consisted of a Dijon and herb crusted beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, creamy green beans with roasted pine nuts, cranberry sauce, and a salad of pomegranate, walnuts, poached pears and goat cheese. Everyone enjoyed the feast, feeding all eight guests. We ate deserts of apple pie with ice cream, and gluten free minced meat tarts.
Moustafa's roommate's Mom, Nelly, was the most amazing sous-chef, jumping in to assist Lindsay in the prep. She was very familiar with cooking for large groups, as this was common for her back in Armenia.
We laughed and celebrated this Christian holiday, with a mostly Muslim group, a lovely nod to our cross-cultural relationship. Although, Lindsay was perplexed that people barely touched the mashed potatoes, usually the first dish to be cleared at her usual Christmas gatherings. Moustafa laughed and said, we like to eat potatoes that still look like potatoes! In the future, Lindsay promised to prepare roasted potatoes for the friends in Dubai.
This warm celebration, filled with family members and close friends, was the first in what will be many Christmas' and other holidays we get to spend together.