Meals Filled with Love

Meals Filled with Love

In Canada, I've always led an independent life, often finding myself dining alone. But upon arriving in Tunisia with a small group, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the warmth of shared meals. "You are not guests, but my family," Taoufik warmly declared during lunch in his traditional Amazigh home in Matmata, where people live in underground caves.

As I looked around the table, watching everyone pass around baskets of fresh bread and the best olive oil I had ever tasted, I realized that my travel companions had become my family. Living in a big city had made every meal feel lonely and mundane. As the days passed, I found myself feeling increasingly isolated, with gatherings with friends becoming a rare occurrence.

Special Meals in Tunisia

When I arrived at Taoufik's home and enjoyed simple yet love-filled meals, I had been exploring Tunisia with the Intrepid group for nearly a week. During that time, we shared most of our meals together. The act of dining with new friends, without even realizing it, became one of the highlights of the journey.

Our culinary adventures began in Tunis with lablabi—a steaming chickpea soup with bread, poached eggs, olive oil, and harissa. It was everyone's first time trying this dish, and we all shared laughs as the chef and Yassine encouraged us to add more harissa to our bowls. I also got to taste fresh prickly pear from a street vendor and drink sap from a date palm from a farmer I was lucky enough to meet during his first harvest.

We lined up to buy makroudh pastries at bakeries in Kairouan and delighted in tasting bamsalouni pastries along the coast of Sidi Bou Said. These experiences boosted my confidence to explore new dishes and created joyful moments as we searched for our favorite Tunisian foods. My personal favorite was brik—a pastry filled with eggs and herbs, fried to a golden crisp, resembling Tunisia's version of a samosa. The thrill of seeing this dish appear on the table was truly special.

Food as a Shared Language of Love

What does "breaking bread" mean? This term has its roots in religion, as mentioned in the New Testament: "It’s hard to be enemies when you have broken bread together." The idea of food as a common bond is prevalent in many cultures. It’s how we welcome guests into our homes. It’s how we celebrate significant occasions. Surely, food is a language of love that has been shared for centuries.

Of course, I have fond memories from solo meals. But every journey lacks something without the laughter, late-night jokes reminiscing about peculiar culinary discoveries, and the friendships that can only blossom around a dinner table, where everyone relaxes with a glass of wine or cheese.

Experiences from the Desert to Star Wars

During this trip to Tunisia with Intrepid, this sense of connection happened daily. We started gathering early for drinks and deep conversations, where genuine stories transformed strangers into friends. One night, someone initiated a game of "Five Things You Love About the City." This kept us chatting long after the plates had been cleared and sparked many ideas for future adventures with this new group of friends.

Some meals took place in stunning settings. In the Sahara, we watched bread bake on hot coals in the sand. At a private home by the forest in Gammarth, where beautiful horses roamed, we savored Tunisian wine with a homemade lunch. Or at Taoufik's cave home—a conversation starter, reminiscent of the filming location for Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. But what warmed my heart wasn't just the surroundings; it was the small moments, like when I learned someone's favorite treat and surprised them with it without asking.

My favorite meals were family-style gatherings, featuring dishes like couscous, carrot salad, and ojja (Tunisian shakshuka) shared among us. They transported me back to family gatherings at my grandparents' house in Canada, where I cherished the feeling of being together around a large table. The simple food, often made from that year's farm produce, was completely different from Tunisian cuisine, which beautifully blends Amazigh, Arab, Jewish, Turkish, Italian, and many other cultural influences. Yet, the feeling remained the same: comfort.

Lessons to Remember

In North America, dining is often viewed in terms of the food. But with my group in Tunisia, I was reminded that it’s also about the people you share it with. I’m no doctor, but I can certainly say my personal happiness index rose with each shared meal on this journey. That will be a lesson I take home and cherish for a lifetime.

Liisa Ladouceur joined a small tour to Tunisia with Intrepid.