Petra Kitchen

We relaxed a for a bit after having walked and climbed almost 7 miles in 5 hours.  A dip in the outdoor pool was in order for the girls and B but it was WAY too cold for me so I just relaxed by the side.  Back in the room, naps were taken by all and then we got showered and ready for our big nighttime adventure - a cooking class and dinner.

Petra Kitchen, located right down the street from our hotel, offers nightly cooking classes that feature traditional Jordanian foods.  By teaching others from around the world how to make their traditional dishes they guarantee the preservation of the flavors of their foods (which are distinct), their culture, and their history. And since they locally source all of their ingredients each day (not a freezer in sight!) they are also keeping a many thousand-year-old tradition alive.  For us, it was a great way to unwind, meet new people and taste a bit of the local culture.  Literally.  And did I mention that because the girls cooked it with their own two hands they ate food that would never have gone over at home?  I see a few more cooking classes in our future...

Kitchen selfie.

Gloved and ready to go.

Some of our ingredients and our menu!

B and the boys got put at the kid's table.  They were making the cheese/thyme pastries and the Araies Lahma (also known as Bedouin Pizza).

First, we all made the dough together.

Then the girls filled the pita shaped dough with the mixture of meat and spices they had prepared while the dough was rising.  They crimped them shut with their fingers so that nothing got loose.  Stinkerbell called them her Jordan Tacos.

In the meantime, I was off making the Baba Ganuj, Tahina Salad, and the Galayet Bandura.  I snuck away from my chopping, stirring and sauteeing to snap a few pictures of the kids at the other station making the pizza bread.

B cut out the dough with a wine glass, and the girls poked holes in it with a fork.

Stinkerbell really got into the poking.

It was almost a bit scary.

Food plated and ready to be served.

We sat down at the table with our newfound friends...2 from Hong Kong and 2 from London (by way of Austria) and us.  Fabulous company.

Stinkerbell was the hit of the night.  Everyone asked her for selfies and a picture to remember her by.  She obliged oh so happily! 

I highly recommend taking a cooking class/dinner with Petra Kitchen.  The worst that can happen is that you meet new friends over an incredible meal that you cooked yourself.