Let me clarify...."roomy" means "turkey" in Arabic.

During the past...hmm, almost a year now! Wow, time flies. Anyway, during the past year'ish, I have worked very hard at learning this culture, the people, and of course...the language. I am doing quite well. So well that I have not only learned to absolutely LOVE the little restaurant which serves the most amazing turkey sandwiches, but I have even learned to order it in fluent, and well spoken Arabic. As well as anything else I might want with it...Diet Coke, etc.

Now to the point...

My dearest and I were deciding about dinner a couple of nights ago, and I made the suggestion of the great little "Roomy Restaurant" as I so fondly refer to it as. I was craving Sambousa Jibbin, which translates into fillo dough filled with a tart goat cheese, deep fried, and sprinkled with lemon juice while still hot. Amazingly delicious. He agreed since he's pretty agreeable about almost anything that doesn't involve me showing any part of my body in public, or going out unescorted. So, we pull up to my little restaurant which is situated in a "strip mall" filled with shoppes ranging from electronics to formal dresses and always incredibly crowded. Of course there is no parking, it's just a matter of driving up, blowing the horn, and waiting for the man to come running outside to take your order. However, this night when we drove up to the well lit, obviously still very busy, strip mall, my little Roomy Restaurant was closed. We were both very shocked by this; looking at the time, wondering if they had left to pray, guessing maybe they were at the Mosque, or something similar. But clearly....it was closed.

The following morning I was being read the newspaper. Yes, my speaking and understanding ability are pretty good. Reading Arabic? Ha, an entirely different story. So, as the reading continues, the laughter starts. Hysterical laughter. From the man who only goes to the Roomy Restaurant to get my food, but rarely eats there himself. It seems there's an extensive article in the newspaper about Farrah (the real name of the Roomy Restaurant). Yes, yes, there sure was. Apparently they had been caught "serving food that was unfit for animal consumption, much less human consumption." Oh, and the best part, "Farrah was suspected of serving cat meat to their customers, presenting it as a variety of other types of meat." I am an animal lover with every bone in my body. I am devastated by the number of stray and neglected animals in this country. And now I am questioning the idea that I could have possibly eaten one?! Fortunately I only ever ate turkey, which clearly appeared to be sliced turkey breast. But to think these people who smiled so kindly, and that I tipped so well, could have malciously killed an innocent animal AND served it to humans as "cheeseburgers" is very upsetting to me.

In general, I am very particular about where and what I eat in a foreign country. I know we're so very fortunate to have the FDA and Health Inspectors in America. We can usually trust what we're eating. Or at least trust that a Grilled Chicken Sandwich isn't really Stray Cat Special.

I am certain the hysterical laughter comes from the fact that I raved about how good the turkey sandwiches were all the time. Now I get "meow'ed" at a few times a day.

Needless to say I am quite bothered by this discovery.

I think I'll stick to Starbucks, Applebees, Ruby Tuesday, and TGI Fridays for a while when I opt to eat out. At least I believe the food came from America.