Tanka challenge 11/30/09

One cannot ignore
The death rattle underfoot
At each passing step.
The nights grow colder, longer,
And the passes fill with snow.

Thanks for playing, everyone.

Afghan: it's not just for curling up under.

If you've read The Kite Runner, and maybe even if you haven't, you may know that a number of Afghan immigrants have made part of the Bay Area their home, specifically the part of the Bay Area where antoniseb is in for business this week.

This is where we ended up for dinner tonight. Thanks to layla_lilah for recommending it. It being early on a Monday evening, we were the only people in the place. Although the traditional seating area looked marvelous, we old fogies opted for sitting in the part of the dining room that had chairs.

Despite the fact that EVERYTHING on the menu looked tempting, aushak (a ravioli-like affair stuffed with seasoned leeks and served with a yogurt sauce) started us off, along with a green salad with a vinegary dressing and a basket of industrial strength naan, most of which I brought home with me. A had the chicken korma challow (chicken in a tomato cilantro sauce with white rice), I chose the quabili pallow (subtly seasoned brown rice, raisins, almonds and carrots with melt-in-your-mouth lamb falling off the bone), which I will be eating off of for at least another two meals. Dessert was firni (a white pudding dusted with pistachios and almond slivers, flavored with rosewater and cardamom) for me and rasmalayee (a sort of Afghan cheesecake swimming in cream) for my companion.

Happy tummy. Haaaaaaapppy tummy! Well, mine at least.

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Stealing this from sasha_khan, but only 'cause he locks his journal.