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Libya!

elfin
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elfin

elfin

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USA now allows its citizens to travel to Libya. We are going next month for two weeks. There is very little info-especially about the food. We have been through East, West and Northern Africa, and the Mideast etc. so we are familiar with the various cuisines. We have a baby who is still eating jar babyfood. Is it possible to buy babyfood (it does not have to be an American brand)? I hate to lug around all those jars. What are the restaurants like? I know the country is dry. Thanks!

What disease did cured ham actually have?

Megan sandwich: White bread, Miracle Whip and Italian submarine dressing. {Megan is 4 y.o.}

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Pan

Pan

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You're an intrepid traveller! I have no advice for you, but I hope you post about your experiences, and I wish you a safe and fun trip!

Michael aka "Pan"

 

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zora

zora

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Omigod, I'm so jealous! Just two weeks ago, I made a toast with friends: "Next year, in Libya!" Basically no chance I'll get to go any sooner than that...

I kinda doubt there's much baby food--socialist developing countries are sometimes a little thin in the consumer goods. Can you take a Happy Baby food grinder or something? Get the kid started on hummus early?

Throughout the Middle East, though, I've noticed people are extremely helpful to parents, and love dealing with kids--so I'm sure anywhere you ask for special food, you'll get it.

Zora O’Neill aka "Zora"

Roving Gastronome

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curlywurlyfi

curlywurlyfi

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my dad used to live in Tripoli in the bad old days (he left about five years ago) and I do remember there wasn't much imported stuff at all, but there was excellent bread, and excellent fresh fruit in season. I'll see if he's still got some contacts there and if I can get you more specific info.

Fi Kirkpatrick

tofu fi fie pho fum

"Your avatar shoes look like Marge Simpson's hair." - therese

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elfin

elfin

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Thanks everyone! It is amazing how isolated the place actually is regarding information. I hit the Lonely Planet web site and have had one reply from a Libyian(I think) who said that we would not starve. You all are so supportive. Our colleagues, neighbors and friends think we are nuts. (Well we are, sort of.)

What disease did cured ham actually have?

Megan sandwich: White bread, Miracle Whip and Italian submarine dressing. {Megan is 4 y.o.}

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curlywurlyfi

curlywurlyfi

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make sure you go and see the caravanserai about two hours out of Tripoli, and the troglodyte dwellings (and of course Leptis Magna and Sabratha).

Fi Kirkpatrick

tofu fi fie pho fum

"Your avatar shoes look like Marge Simpson's hair." - therese

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curlywurlyfi

curlywurlyfi

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Jars of baby food are readily available. The brand is 'Plasmon', made in Italy. Nestle 'Cerelac' powdered food is also readily available. 'Gerber' and 'Heinz' not showing up so far.

Fi Kirkpatrick

tofu fi fie pho fum

"Your avatar shoes look like Marge Simpson's hair." - therese

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  • 11 months later...
JustKay

JustKay

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elfin! do post your experience in Libya. I have a new neighbor - they are from Libya. Last Sunday, I had my first taste of 'authentic' Libyan dishes.

I've had 'dolmeh' made by an Iranian neighbor before, but I must say this Libyan lady's dolmeh is way better. I am so looking forward to learn how to make Libyan dishes.

She also told me that Libya is very much influenced by things Italian - everything from food to fashion. But there's nothing much in Libya, they mostly cross over to Italy for any real shopping.

Edited by kew (log)
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Pan

Pan

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I seem to remember that Libya was the breadbasket of the Roman Empire until they overtaxed the soil so much with farming and grazing that they created the Sahara. Yeah, I know that sounds like a Just So story (you know, as in the ones Kipling wrote down). Any truth to this?

Michael aka "Pan"

 

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StevenC

StevenC

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I collect cookbooks from all over the world, but I haven't found much information about Libyan food, let alone a European-language cookbook. (I'm working on Arabic, though!)

As far as the Internet, http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/d...hneiwa/food.htm has an extensive collection of Libyan recipes. There is also a short page about food on www.libyana.org

Good luck, and let us know all about the food you find!

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  • 1 month later...
touaregsand

touaregsand

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They eat h'reimi, not hamraya, no its haraymi, or is chreimi? :biggrin:

The cuisine overlaps with Algerian and Tunisian where it borders those countries. The country also has an Amazigh history as well. They have couscous dishes also. But I think restaurants catering to tourists call them "Tunisian or Moroccan couscous" when in fact it is a part of Libya's own culinary history. (Not to get too off topic, but the formation of National boundaries has shifted and changed in the past...). Of course where it meets Egypt the cuisine will reflect that.

There's a rich food history here that has been under documented.

I've only seen a few lists of Libyan recipes here and there. The names of the dishes and the preparations that I have seen so far are the same or similar to Maghrebi cuisine.

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