OK, one more post on Ramadan. I had this post in the queue to be published but I forgot about it. ME and I returned to the US the beginning of August for several weeks. Since we have been home I had not had a chance to check the blog. I am just finding this post now. Sooo, this is the last on Ramadan.
M.E. and I were invited to an iftar dinner. Iftar dinner is the meal at sunset when the day’s fast is broken. It is very common for companies to invite there office staff out sometime during Ramadan for an iftar dinner. This year Dow had a dinner for its office employees. It was held at a restaurant in one of the international hotels in Khobar. All of these dinners are buffet style meals. Many Muslim families go out for an iftar dinner during Ramadan. The Muslims love there buffet meals. We arrived a little after 6pm. The office folks all arrived a little after and socialized. Just before the prayer everyone sat down and waited. Over the loud speaker a short prayer was said and everyone jumped up and headed for the food tables. M.E. went to another iftar dinner where everyone got there food first, sat and waiting, at the end of the prayer they all dug in.
At the entrance to the restaurant was a table filled with a selection of dates, nuts and dried fruit. Once in the restaurant there were several tables set up. One was all appetizers consisting of humus, babaganoush, tabbouleh, many salads made from fresh vegetables, sea food and meats all served cold or at room temperature. The was a variety of juices and sweet drinks, and a long table of hot food anchored by a large pan of rice and a whole lamb.
Eid al-Fitr also called Feast of Breaking the Fast or the Sweet Festival marks the end of Ramadan. It begins with several special prayers and worship. In Saudi Arabia it is celebrated with great pomp, homes are decorated and sumptuous meals are prepared for family and friends. It is a celebration of generosity and hospitality. It is a weeklong national holiday. In the evening are huge firework displays.
dates, dried fruit and nuts at the entrance of the restaurant
the salad table
the salad table with bread in the background
the restaurant just as it opened
juice bar
an assortment of lamb, beef, fish and chicken with vegetables
rice with lamb
view from the restaurant of Khobar along the corniche
cheese table
dessert table
hunger guest