Host: This looks amazing! I can believe it smells so good. This is my first Tajinean meal. Thank you guys so much for having me here.
Naima: You’re very welcome.
Host: I’m guessing that there’s a tradition you don’t just dive in and eat the food.
Naima: Yes. It’s true. We needs some rose water for everybody and we’ll start with you, our guest.
Host: Oh, rose water.
Naima: Yes rose water.
Host: Oh that’s so nice. Why do we do this?
Naima: To have a little energy for the food. To wash our hand and to be in good shape.
Host: Nice and then what else?
Male: And the first thing before we start to eat, you have to say Besmele, it’s like in the name of God.
Host: Do you toast it or how do you do it?
Naima: No.
Male: No, just say it to yourself, between you and yourself. That’s for thanking God for the food you gave me and everything.
Host: Great! So then, besmele.
Male: Besmele.
Naima: Besmele.
Host: Alright, this is so great! So now, I know that you are not born in Tunisia. You were born right here in Manhattan right?
Female: Yes.
Host: But what about Tunisia, have you kept going on in your life here.
Female: Well, both of my parents are from Tunisia and my mom—introducing us and I think that’s only the Tunisian food.
Host: Really? In your home, you only eat Tunisian food.
Female: Well, not only. We always mix it up between different culture and everything, but we really adore the Tunisian food and keep our customs alive and we know our mother tells us all the time love stories and tales.
Host: Really? Is there a big community in New York with a lot of Tunisians here?
Naima: We are in the U.S.A., 11,000.
Host: 11,000? What about in New York because is there a big community here?
Naima: In New York, there are maybe 5,000 in the biggest communities in New York.
Host: Wow and I know that you’re a member of a Tunisian culture group.
Male: The Tunisian culture center which is s a great place, a great refuge; a home away from home. It really serves a great purpose for Tunisians that live abroad especially in New York.
Host: Is there anything like in particular that you coordinate or celebrate?
Male: Ramadan. Ramadan is a big thing. We have a lot of meals there at night.
Host: What’s a typical Ramadan meal in Tunisia? Couscous?
Male: It’s really big. No. I mean Couscous is the main dish but there’s definitely a lot more dishes, lot of fish and a lot of seafood.
Host: Now, I know you’re not from Tunisia.
Female: Yeah. My name is—I’m from West Africa, Ghana and this is my place, I'm to enjoy Tunisian cuisine.
Host: And what do you think about it?
Female: I don’t know, lovely.
Host: Oh wait. I want to try the Borek. I haven’t had any of the Borek yet. Everybody should try some of these, right? Is it okay that we just eat out of order?
Naima: Of course. That shouldn’t be the appetizer.
Host: So, what is a traditional meal time like at a home in Tunisia?
Naima: In Tunisia, the most traditional meal for the middle class family is the Couscous.
Host: Is the Couscous?
Naima: And then the spaghetti.
Host: Spaghetti?
Naima: Spaghetti. We have a lot of Italian influence here now cuisine.
Host: Really? I didn’t know that.
Male: We got like half an hour to cook this.
Host: That’s true. And then after you eat, you could always chase this with some sweets, sweets and tea and you just chill out in the living room?
Naima: Oh yes.
Host: That sounds like my kind of meal. Well, I want o say gain thank you so much for having me. This is unbelievably delicious and I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did. So, thanks and we’ll see you next time.
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