A Palestinian dining delight in the land of Christ’s birth

To list all the wonderful descriptions of the birthplace of our Lord would be impossible, to borrow a page from St. John (Jn 21:15). This December, we spent nearly three weeks in Bethlehem on a project for our Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and this became evident each day. The people of Bethlehem have had as much “cultural-social gyrations” as nearly any ethnic group in human history. What is so marvelous is that they have remained loyal to their faith and family despite this chaos.
 
After annual trips for nearly a decade, Connie and I have grown to realize, as the true local Palestinians say, “This is your home.” Certainly, our Lord’s birth made this a reality over 2,000 years ago. The House of David had little idea that this “bread basket” city would produce the Bread of Life.
 
One of the families we were blessed to know owns and operates the newest and most exciting restaurant in the heart of Bethlehem: Cascada Rooftop and Lounge. Lifelong Palestinian Christians, Dr. Michele and Lina Raheel have assisted their son Francis to open this elegant restaurant. Francis is a graduate of Bethlehem’s University Hospitality School, which is well known for this area of study. The menu, like the city of Bethlehem, is diverse in offering and bold in flavors.
 
The choice for a meal is not an easy one, but when in the Middle East our cravings lean to the grilled meats of Palestinian, Lebanese, and Jordanian specialties. The pick is often kebabs, but saying “kebab” is like saying “pizza,” as there are endless varieties and toppings. The mainstay is a top-shelf ground-beef-and-lamb mixture (70:30 ratio). For my selection on this evening, I chose the pistachio kebab, described as the beef-lamb mixture coated with ground pistachios and glazed with tahini sauce. It was served with a loaf of sesame bread and an eggplant aioli.
 
These are truly Palestinian kebabs. The key to the recipe is proper blending of the meats, seasonings, and grilling, never overcooking. The kebab, like rice, can be a carrier of exquisite flavors. It’s bolder than rice but still allows for the grilled meat to be savored and for the other flavors to convey their dynamic tastes. Thus, the pistachio is wonderfully present while the grilled juicy kebab makes a perfect foundation.
 
As we left Cascada and gazed at the city lights and that clear December sky, we could easily imagine the star that heralded His birth. Bethlehem is a city and a people prepared by God to welcome Emmanuel, from the lowly shepherd boys to the kings from the East. The manger was His first earthly throne. Please visit, gaze upon the fields of Bethlehem, and dine at Cascada for a blessing beyond measure — from your family in Palestine.