Celebrate a Mouthwatering Eid al-Adha Holiday in Little Arabia

(Gerry Furth-Sides) Trays of miniature flaky filo dough pastries rolled into what look like fields of edible flowers and dense, moist pastries shaped in flat slabs or mounds undulate across the glass counters. Neatly laid stacks of plastic boxes filled with  a variety of beautiful treats nearly take your breath away at both Forn Al Hara and at Victory Pastry bakeries.  Still, the charming Lebanese owners at both shops in Anaheim’s  “Little Arabia” shrug their shoulders and apologize for “so little being left for sale after customers came for their orders” to celebrate Eid al-Adha.   For our shopper guide to the area, please see: (//localfoodeater.com/shoppers-guide-to-anaheims-magical-little-arabia/)   For a general directory, please see:(//www.littlearabiadistrict.com).

The three-day holiday of Eid al-Adha is known as the “Feast of the Sacrifice” or Eid Qurban, the “Festival of the Sacrifice” as it is known in Persian. The date on the Islamic lunar calendar is the 10^th day of Dhu al-Hijah.  It is the second of only of two Islamic holidays celebrated around the world each year.  In the Islamic lunar calendar,  Eid al-Adha starts at sundown on the 10th day of Shu al-Hijah. The date varies in the Gregorian calendar by 11 or so days from year to year. This summer it is from sundown Monday the 12^th of August to sundown on August 15.

Sweets are the order of the day on this holiday although it honors the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham)  to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command. But, before Abraham could sacrifice his son, God provided a lamb to sacrifice instead. In commemoration of this intervention, an animal is sacrificed ritually and divided into three parts. One share is given to the poor and needy, another is kept for home, and the third is given to relatives.

Eid al Adha is not complete without Ma’amoul. These sweet cookies are not only popular  in Lebanon, but in Jordan, Palestine, and Syria too. These crumbly and buttery cookie mounds are as dense as a cake.  They are  made with rose water and are filled with dates, walnuts or pistachios.  They are cousins to my absolute favorite Polverones, the Mexican Wedding Cookie.

The congenial, enthusiastic Mohammad Alam packed us each an assortment of sweets to take home. Forn al Hara also offers a variety of  miniature and sheet baklavah and other pastries.  The shop is well known for Ring-shaped ka’ak with dates, and three versions of Ma’amoul filled with pistachio, walnuts and dates.   And remember, this is “only” the bakery section in a place also famous for flat-breads (manaeesh).   The food and warm hospitality make Forn al Hara a popular place for locals to have a homemade,  inexpensive lunch.

This is “only” the bakery section in place famous for flat-breads (manaeesh) with homemade za’atar. Forn Al Hara also offers wraps. The most popular is made with chicken and cheese. A huge menu on the wall includes these items, and the phone never stopped ringing with orders.

Forn Al Hara, 512 S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim, Calif. 92804. (714) 758-3777.

When we looked at the mouthwatering, rich desserts at Victory Sweets, we were eagerly anticipating only a bite or two, We stopped to walk through the Fresh Choice market before moving on to this sweet, inviting little shop with a black and white checkerboard floor and twinkle lights outside, Victory Sweets.  When we looked at the mouthwatering, rich desserts on offer, we were eagerly anticipating only a bite or two. At Victory Sweets, owner Mohammad Awad makes all the dough himself.  The finely shredded kadaif, one of his top signature doughs, is made with a special machine.  Awad’s sweets are so highly respected in the community that the Olive Tree Restaurant uses them for catering events.

Victory Sweets, 9057 Cerritos Ave., Anaheim, Calif. 92804. (714) 229-0800.

We enjoyed a Ramadan feast at The Olive Tree, which is located across the parking lot from Forn Al Hara, so we know it is superb.  For this holiday, current owner Alan Abdo described the pre-holiday feast ($20) as having eggs and potatoes, eggs and halal sausage, and an assortment of other dishes, including kidney and spleen of a sheep to celebrate the holiday.  The Olive Tree’s original owner, Yusuf Abdo will lend a hand to current owner, son Alan, to oversee the holiday pre-fast feast.

Olive Tree Restaurant, 518 S Brookhurst St., Anaheim, Calif. 92804. (714) 535-2878.