Phuc Nicky Bd

This is an enormous task to cook for over 40 people. We could not really help Maily because none of us are familiar enough with these dishes and therefore we could not just bring a dish. It took Maily 2 days to cook the food but luckily Hanh came to the rescue and was Maily's sous- chef for one day and help her with the prep work. Because this is such an ambitious task there is no way for Maily to make dessert so Ha, Hanh and myself, we volunteered to take care of all the desserts for the evening with the exception of the ice cream birthday cake.

Doan did a wonderful job setting up the buffet table too. I took this picture while we are bringing the food out.

On the left we have FEKKOUS WA MATISHA B’NAHNA, a minty Cucumber & Tomato Salad and on the right we have Chicken Shish Kabobs Marrakesh Style.

DJEJ M’KALLI B’ L’HAMD MARKAD, chicken with preserved lemons & artichoke hearts

KEFTA MAHCHIYA, stuffed Meatballs with dried fruit in sweet onion sauce.

Garlic Shrimp with roasted corn. This dish is Huyen specialty and this is the only dish that Maily did not cook.

On the far left you can see part of the K’SEKSOO B’KEMROON, Shrimp Couscous with roasted Pepper coulis (this dish is the staple of Moroccan food), in the middle a dish of HEZZU M’CHERMEL, carrots & sweet paprika, top left is a CHICKPEA & SPINACH STEW with chopped eggs, some pita bread, bottom center is a dish of B’STILA B’DJEJ (see below picture)

B’STILA B’DJEJ, Chicken in Phyllo Dough. I usually do not really like this dish in Moroccan restaurant because it is so sweet and it is kinda weird for me to eat a savory dish that is so sweet but Maily adjusted the recipe and cut down half of the sugar and the result was so good. She only sprinkle a bit of powder sugar instead or drowning the dish into sugar and honey.

And this the star of the evening:

AL KOTBAN MRAKCHIYA, lamb Shish Kabobs Marrakesh Style.

The kid went crazy with this dish so Maily had to ration it so everyone can sample the kabob.

The wine table, courtesy of Phuc.

There is also one more dish that I do not have a picture is the TEMRIKA MESLALLA , garlic beef with green olives because Maily forgot to bring it out with the rest of the food but fortunately she remembered to bring out mid way through dinner.

The birthday boys!

So before we start helping ourselves with the food, Maily made a little speech on how Phuc came to visit her at the hospital the day that Nicky was born.....and here we are 15 years later, they are both celebrating a wonderful double birthday.

The kids are in line for the food. After this party, I think we have to change our strategy of having the kids eat before the adults. The kids are no longer kids and let me tell you they can eat, and by the time it is for the adults turn to help ourselves with dinner, we found out that the kids has taken most of the good stuff.

This is warning! Kids, sorry but for the next party the adults will eat first and we will make sure to leave you guys the good morsels.