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Arab Contributions Naguib Mahfouz began writing when he was seventeen. The appearance of the Cairo Triology, Bayn al Qasrayn, Qasr al Shawq, Sukkariya (Between-the-Palaces, Palace of Longing,...

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Food

Ftat, an Ancient Libyan Flatbread

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Found in Misrata and Jebel Nafusa, Ftat (فتات) is an ancient Libyan Amazigh flatbread that originated within western Libya’s agricultural communities. The bread is made of a simple mix of flour and water and cooked on a hot flat surface. Its thin, layered technique distinguishes it within Libyan cuisine. Despite its long history, it remains largely unknown outside both regions. Arab America Contributing writer, Nourelhoda Alashlem, outlines the historical background and preparation method. Read more for the full history and recipe.

A Taste of Home: The Expansion of Arab Comfort Food Into the U.S

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By Ben Samuels/ Arab America Contributing Writer For many Americans, their first taste of Arab food was likely a large platter of chicken over rice or a hummus dish. The rapid growth of Arab comfort food in the U.S. has been crucial to Arab identity. Food is a crucial element of almost all cultural identities, … Continued

Bound by Asida: A Shared Dish Across Continents

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By: Nourelhoda Alashlem / Arab America Contributing Writer Asida (also known as Aseed or عصيدة) is a traditional grain-based dish shared across Southwest Asia and Africa, particularly in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and across North Africa, including Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Sudan. The dish is eaten directly by hand from a single communal bowl, … Continued

Give Thanks the Arab Way this Thanksgiving

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By: Emily Devereaux/Arab America Contributing Writer Origins of Thanksgiving Close your eyes. Picture the leaves in different shades of red, yellow, and orange, and feel the breeze of late November. The holiday season is about to start with Thanksgiving. What do you picture when you think of Thanksgiving? Many Americans picture a table full of … Continued

The Rise of Ethnic Enclaves: Little Arabia

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By Rena Elhessen/Arab America Contributing Writer Beginning in the early 1900s, immigrants would settle in communities with a shared demographic. People arriving from the same global region or country found themselves in a singular community. This trend became recognizable by scholars, who coined these communities as ‘ethnic enclaves’.  The term ‘ethnic enclave’ emerged from the … Continued

The Prospect of UN Multinational Troop Deployment in Gaza

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By Jake Harris / Arab America Contributing Writer Dire Humanitarian Situation The humanitarian situation in Gaza is desperate. The United Nations estimates that 92 percent of buildings and structures in Gaza are either damaged or destroyed. Apart from the vast destruction of residential areas, crucial infrastructure such as hospitals have been decimated by Israeli air … Continued

Bridges of Culture: Arab Contributions to Italy

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By: Fayzeh Abou Ardat / Arab America Contributing Writer Southern Italy, particularly Sicily and parts of Calabria, carry a profound legacy of Arab influence. This influence began with the Arab conquest of Sicily in the 9th century. It has left an unforgettable imprint on the region’s architecture, cuisine, language, science, and cultural identity. Despite the … Continued

Ayat Restaurant: Where the East Village Meets Palestine

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By: Katie Beason / Arab America Contributing Writer Palestinian food has become an integral part of the New York City culinary scene, a reflection of the city’s deep diversity and immigrant history. The history of Palestinian cuisine in NYC, particularly in Brooklyn, dates back to the mid-1900s when Palestinian immigrants arrived in the US following … Continued

A Tour of Arab American Enclaves Across the U.S.

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By: Arwa Almasaari / Arab America Contributing Writer Arab Americans are woven into the fabric of the United States, with communities found in nearly every major city. A few neighborhoods, in particular, have especially high concentrations of Arab Americans. These enclaves are rich in culture, featuring Arab restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, and other businesses—serving … Continued

From Olives to the Alhambra, Moorish Culture Takes Over Spain

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By: Nissrine Bedda / Arab America Contributing Writer From the port of Tangier, locals can see the tips of Southern Spain about thirty-five kilometers away. In the grand city of Andalusia, Spain tourists are submersed into a transnational cultural identity that opens the door to diverse artistic creativity, people, cuisine, etc. The question is, how … Continued

Pathbreakers of Arab America—Ernest Hamwi

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This is the sixty-seventh of Arab America’s series on American pathbreakers of Arab descent. The series includes personalities from entertainment, business, sports, science, arts, academia, journalism, and politics, among other areas. Our sixty-seventh pathbreaker is Ernest Hamwi, a Syrian born Arab American businessman and entrepreneur. Born on November 18, 1883, in Damascus, Syria he is considered by some as the creator of the ice cream cone, which he purportedly conceived of while working as a concessionaire at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Contributing writer, John Mason, informs us that there is much more information available on the ice cream cone than exists on Ernest himself. Nevertheless, this is his brief but eventful story.

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