Forn Al Hara Bakery and Restaurant

Celebrating the Two Major Muslim “Eids”

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Flowers and children are important in the two Eid festivals

Muslims all over the world this week are celebrating Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Fitr, one of the religion’s principal festivals was celebrated in spring. Ken Chitwood, a scholar of global Islam, helped us understand the two Islamic festivals.

Eid literally means festival or feast in Arabic. There are two major eids in the Islamic calendar per year – Eid al-Fitr earlier in the year and Eid al-Adha later.  Both follow the lunar calendar.

The second and Eid al-Adha, is the “feast of the sacrifice.” It comes at the end of the Hajj. This annual pilgrimage by millions of Muslims to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia is made at least once in a lifetime.

Eid al-Adha recalls the story of how God commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as a test of faith. The story, as narrated in the Quran, describes Satan’s attempt to tempt Ibrahim so he would disobey God’s command. Ibrahim, however, remains unmoved and informs Ismail, who is willing to be sacrificed. 

But, just as Ibrahim attempts to kill his son, God intervenes and a ram is sacrificed in place of Ismail. During Eid al-Adha, Muslims slaughter an animal to remember Ibrahim’s sacrifice and remind themselves of the need to submit to the will of God.

The sacrificed ram is symbolized by goat in this Banana Leaf LA goat sukka dish

Eid al-Fitr Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of the 10th month in the Islamic calendar.  This three-day-long festival and is known as the “Lesser” or “Smaller Eid” when compared to Eid al-Adha, which is four-days-long and is known as the “Greater Eid.”

Sweets are always a part of the break-the-fast Eid al-Fitr here at Forn-Al Hara Bakery and Restaurant

Eid al-Fitr means “the feast of breaking the fast.” The fast, in this instance, is Ramadan, which recalls the revealing of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad and requires Muslims to fast from sunrise to sundown for a month.

Eid al-Fitr features two to three days of celebrations that include special morning prayers.  special . People greet each other with “Eid Mubarak,” meaning “Blessed Eid” and with formal embraces.

Sweet dishes are prepared at home and gifts are given to children and to those in need. In addition, Muslims are encouraged to forgive and seek forgiveness.

The final major break-the-fast meal at Olive Tree in Little Arabia

For more information on halal meats, please see: //localfoodeater.com/what-is-halal-and-why-it-is-going-viral/

How to Celebrate Ramadan in All Its Parts

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Ramadan treats at Forn Al Hara: Maneen flatbreads, salad and pastries

(Gerry Furth-Sides) We were so fortunate to visit Forn Al Hara and Le Mirage bakeries in “Little Arabia” leading up to the first of two month-long Ramadan holiday celebrations, Eid al-Fitr.  The second arrives in about two months, Eid al-Adhar. The joyous bakes made specially for the holy days, but the spirit of it as well. It is a time for forgiveness and reflection, rejoicing and blessings.  What’s not to celebrate for everyone, and to do this all year.

First up:  Forn Al Hara. 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 appear to undulate across the glass counters in the fading sunlight. It is the first thing you see when you walk in the door even if it is across the room. 

Neatly laid stacks of plastic boxes filled with a variety of beautiful treats nearly take your breath away.  What a special time in Little Arabia during Ramadan! Our favorite special cookie, Ma’amoul, is a tradition at Eid al-Fitr.

Forn Al Hara‘s miniature flaky filo dough pastries rolled into what look like fields of edible flowers

Not a minute’s lull between lively customers coming for the best, best savory and sweet dishes or the friendly staff preparing them, fast, fast, fast to be ready for Iftar (break-the-fast dinner). 

Customers can arrive to survey the treats and put in an order and then come back for their full meals; call in on the phone, or dine-in to linger and eat. Each order takes about 30 minutes.

Last year we were so concerned that sweetest, talented, Forn Al Hara owner-chef, Muhammad Alam was so tired from working 12 hour shifts.  Of course, this lovely man still tried to send us home with a gift box of traditional Maamoul and ka’ak. 

Forn Al Hara owner-chef, Muhammad Alam and a boxed treasure of Ramdan bakes

This time his nephew, Nader, capably manned the bustling post this day and “took good care of us,” as promised. A table set up turned out to be a plate and take out box! Finger food defined!)

Nader, nephew of Forn Al Hara owner-chef, Muhammad Alam

A young customer who was in line waiting was happy to offer suggestions when we asked about what he like to eat. We knew we were looking for a Maheesh (flatbread). He immediately suggested his favorite of his with ground beef (my new favorite) and a cheese favorite of his children.

We were also advised to order the little closed spinach pies, a cousin of Greek spanakopita. These turned out to be pillowy and tasty, also redolent with the taste of pomegranate molasses. 

We could not decide what holiday pastries and cookies to take away and so seemed to take all as happily explained by another customer.  Nader explained each one when I called during lunchtime today!

My confirmed new all-time holiday favorite is pistachio paste Ma’amoul, light, buttery and not too sweet. It is the bigger cake, bottom row. I am grateful enough for this alone.

Ramadan 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 can have a filling of dates, walnuts or pistachios, and sometimes almonds.  They are cousins to my absolute favorite Polverones, the Mexican Wedding Cookie.

Forn Al Hara’s Ma’amoul with pistachios in bottom row, with walnuts at top left, next to anise cookies

Forn Al Hara, 512 S. Brookhurst St, Anaheim,CA 92804, 714.758.3777, Phone: (714) 758-3777.

Menu and details: Fornalhara.com

This (Le) Mirage is a real treasure for those who know that a bouza ice cream machine is in their back room.  We knew.  It was our second visit. 

Maher Nakhal and his booze at Le Mirage

In the hunt for Bouza: (1) don’t be fooled by look-alike, Melissa’s flowery cabbage.   (2) ASK for Syrian Bouza, or sticky ice cream. The shop also sells Italian gelato and dazzling arrays of pastries.(3) Don’t think the shelf at the door only holds business cards- it’s the original ice cream maker! Weighs a ton, and had to be replaced with another that has USA-friendly electrical system. See Maher Nakhal and the machine out back from the Le Mirage Facebook.

For more reading, please see //localfoodeater.com/shoppers-guide-to-aneaheims-magical-little-arabia/

Le Mirage, Maher Nakhal bouza, 100 S Brookhurst St, Anaheim, CA  92804, 714-491-3855.

lemiragepastry.com

Celebrate a Mouthwatering Eid al-Adha Holiday in Little Arabia

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(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 10th 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 12th 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.

Owner Mohammad Alam

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.

The moist, dense, almost paste-like pistachio filling inside this Ma’amoul

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.

An “empty” counter after holiday shoppers

Most of the trays in Victory Sweets counters looked like this the day before the holiday!

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.

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