Caravan Rings in the Season with A Moroccan Lunch and Dinner Festivus, Dec 24 and 25
Marooned in Beijing over Christmas? Tired of turkey, fixings and anything else that reminds you of not being home for the holidays? Then stop by Caravan, where Moroccan kitchen master Badr Benjelloun is readying a festive feast unlike anything other in Beijing.
“I was talking to a few long timers lamenting the state of Christmas dinners in Beijing. Too pricey, too boring, same old. That got me thinking to our Christmas celebrations in Morocco, which were definitely not religious but more about family gatherings and gifts. I decided to recreate that,” Benjelloun says of the inspiration for Moroccan Festivus meal, served for lunch and dinner at Caravan on December 24 and 25 and priced at RMB 180 per adult and RMB 90 for children under 12.
The special meal’s title not only references Benjelloun’s Moroccan heritage, but also cheekily alludes to some of his favorite pop culture holiday moments. The term “Festivus”, of course, was coined in an episode of the hit sitcom Seinfeld called “The Strike", (that aired on the ninth season in 1997), during which infamous misanthrope George Costanza endured his father’s invented and abrasive alternative to Christmas and all of its commercialism.
Thankfully, there will be no “feats of strength,” “airing of grievances” or any of the elder Costanza’s other traumatic Festivus traditions during the Caravan feast. Benjelloun’s rendition is far more joyous, thanks to its key dish: his own homemade ras el hanout meatloaf. He says it not only consists of lamb tenderloin preserved in lemon and ginger, but is also infused with his ras el hanout, “a Moroccan blend of over 20 spices that translates into sensory overload.” Aside from that, the dinner will also feature a preserved lemon and tomato soup, Mediterranean roasted sweet potatoes, and Oreo red wine cheesecake, along with free flow wine and bubbly (for an added RMB 150 per person). Benjelloun is also proud of The harissa mac and cheese casserole that he has prepared for the feast, which he describes as a: “weird medley of hot and savory that we've been playing with for a while.”
“The dishes are all pretty much Moroccan twists on traditional Christmas dishes using typical Moroccan cooking styles. And of course, it is probably the only Halal Festivus meal in Beijing,” Benjelloun says, before explaining one of its other influences that combines his love of pop culture and his own heritage: an episode of a certain American sitcom featuring a character named Dwight, who rescues a drunken colleague that accidentally started a fire during their Moroccan Christmas party. For those who can’t guess, Benjelloun explains: “It’s a fun, unpretentious tongue in cheek reference to The Office.”
Caravan’s A Moroccan Festivus will be held during lunch and dinner on December 24 and 25. The meal costs RMB 180 per adult, RMB 90 for children under 12. Free-flow wine, bubbly, soft drinks, and coffee are also available for an additional RMB 150. Vegetarian and gluten-free options will also be available upon request.
Images: Caravan
