The War of the Chick Pea

It is simply chick peas, sesame paste, lemon juice and olive oil.

But that doesn't stop Israelis from loving hummus to a passionate extent. It is the filler of bellies, the ubiquitous appetizer, and the elixir of life. Did you know that there is an entire dairy case for just hummus in the grocery store? The variety is overwhelming. When I have to buy it, I get into a panic of decision making, and just close my eyes and pick one at random.

What kind of olive oil? What is the chickpea to sesame ratio? What do you want on top? pesto? paprika? other unidentified green stuff? Little pool of olive oil? Are there whole chick peas floating around?

And no Israeli restaurant could open up shop with out at least four different kinds listed on the menu, usually fresh that day. The one we went to for my birthday had at about eight varieties and because of the open kitchen we saw the magic firsthand.
The cook takes a big serving spoon and dips it into a large pot to bring out a giant blob of warm hummus. With a flick of the wrist and a satisfying plop, the blob lands in a shallow bowl awaiting in the cook's other hand. With the back of the spoon he deftly swoops the hummus around the the edge and fills the resulting cavity with warm chick peas, olive oil or some other topping. Then the bell dings and the waitress carts it off to another hungry customer with a pate full of fresh pitas.

Besides all the culture and ceremony surrounding the eating of hummus, it has also has become a way for Israel and Lebanon to express their dislike of each other without using soldiers.

Last October, some dudes in Lebanon broke the Guinness Record for the biggest bowl of Hummus ever made. There Lebanon was, strutting around claiming to be the Queens and Kings of Hummus.

In January, those Hummus guys in Abu Gosh, in a surprise attack made a four tonne bowl of hummus to usurp the title. It was probably the only time the viciously competing Abu Gosh Hummus restaurants worked together for something. The nation of Israel celebrated.

Well this really cheesed off the Lebanese. By May, they had retaliated with a larger, ten tonne bowl of hummus and reclaimed their coveted title.

Do you think Israel will back down? NEVER! I am sure there are thicker plots and pots cooking in Abu Gosh as we speak.