Alright, alright, let’s talk about this “small appetizer in Turkish cuisine,” whatever that fancy talk means. I ain’t no city slicker, ya know, but I know good food when I see it, or smell it, mostly smell it.
So, this “NYT” thing, sounds like some big-shot newspaper, they got this puzzle, and folks are scratchin’ their heads over what a small Turkish snack is called. Heck, back in my day, a snack was whatever you could grab from the garden or the pantry, ain’t nothin’ fancy about it.
But these city folks, they like their names and their “cuisines.” From what I gather, this little Turkish bite, they call it “Meze.” Sounds kinda funny if ya ask me, but hey, to each their own.
Now, what is this “Meze” thing anyway? Well, it ain’t like a big ol’ steak or a whole chicken. It’s more like little bits and pieces, ya know? Like, a few olives here, some cheese there, maybe a little bit of that hummus stuff everyone’s talkin’ about. I tried that hummus once, not bad, but give me a good ol’ potato salad any day.
- They say Meze is a “starter,” a “selection,” “hors d’oeuvres,” all them fancy words just mean it’s somethin’ you eat before the real meal.
- Kinda like when you have some pickles and crackers before supper, only maybe a bit more…well, Turkish.
- I heard tell they have all sorts of little dishes, some with vegetables, some with meat, some with yogurt.
- Makes ya wonder how they have time to make all them little things. Back in my day, we made one big pot of somethin’ and that was that.
This “Meze,” it ain’t just one thing, see? It’s a whole bunch of different little dishes, all laid out, and you get to pick and choose what you want. Like a buffet, but smaller, I guess. And probably a lot more expensive, these city folks like to spend their money on fancy things.
I reckon it’s kinda like when you have a bunch of leftovers and you put ’em all out on the table and everyone gets a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Only, you know, these Turkish folks probably don’t have leftover mashed potatoes and green beans like I do. They probably got some fancy eggplant stuff or somethin’.
And this crossword puzzle, seems like a lot of fuss over a little word. But I guess that’s what city folks do for fun. Me, I’d rather be out in the garden, pullin’ weeds or pickin’ tomatoes. At least you get somethin’ real to eat at the end of the day.
So, let’s get this straight. “Small appetizer in Turkish cuisine”? That’s “Meze,” plain and simple. Don’t need no fancy words or crossword puzzles to know that. It’s just little bits of food, like a snack, only they got a fancy name for it.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go make some supper. And it ain’t gonna be no “Meze,” I can tell ya that much. It’s gonna be good, hearty food, the kind that sticks to your ribs. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with a little somethin’ fancy now and then, but give me a home-cooked meal any day of the week.
This “NYT”, they sure do like to make things complicated. But food is food, no matter what you call it. And whether it’s a big ol’ turkey or a little bit of “Meze,” it’s all about nourishin’ your body and enjoyin’ what you got.
And that’s all I gotta say about that. Now, where did I put my apron?
Tags: [Meze, Turkish Cuisine, Appetizer, NYT Crossword, Food, Small Bites, Starter, Hors d’oeuvres]
