Reflections : Who Doesn't Like Abu Khalil's chinese?

I thought it was funny.I woke up early to cook lunch before going to work.I made a chinese stir fry,and went to watch TV before the kids wake up.Otherwise,I'd only be getting my education through Barney and BBC prime children's programs.I'd be humming Balaaaamoooory all day long.So I tuned in to Jazeera channel,which I 'm not a big fan of,but was looking for anything to watch,when I saw a familiar chinese face.It was funny because the smell of soya sauce,ginger and honey ,was filling my house at this early hour of the morning, and who do I see on TV other than the famous Abu Khallil,owner of the first chinese restaurant to open in Amman.The program was called Asdiqa al Arab (Friends of Arabs).I've never seen it before but I thought it was pretty interesting ,that I 'll be looking for it in the future.The program's theme is really nice,and the pleasant personality of Abu Khalil,with the beautiful scenery of Amman streets ,made for a very enjoyable episode.

In 1978, Peter Kwan,aka Abu Khalil,heard His Highness Prince Hassan say , that all the worlds capitals have a chinese restaurant,how come Amman doesn't?There and then,Abu Khalil decided to give it a shot and open a restaurant,though he had nothing to do with this sort of business,and he knew nothing about cooking. He arranged with the embassy's chef to start up the place,and his wife took a one-year course with a very famous taiwanese chef to help him out with his endeavour.In the beginning,he had a 50/50 ratio of Jordanian to foreign customers.Jordanians were still not used to this sort of food and needed to be educated about it.Now ,he says it's a 90/10 ratio in favor of Jordanians.His son was named Khalil,after his doctor.He talked about the awkward situations his son faces ,working in Seatle,having an american passport , a chinese origin and looks,and an arab name.He talked about how he found it difficult for his daughter to get married to an arab(palestinian),since the chinese people are just as conservative as us, when it comes to interracial marriages,and how he was able to accept it, after giving it a lot of thought ,and realizing that his kids are only chinese in the way they look,but are arabs deep at heart.He talked ,with great respect ,about the day when His Late Majesty King Hussain and Her Majesty Queen Noor came to have lunch without any prior preparations.He talked about his home-sick feeling to Jordan when he's back in China,for after 28 years,Jordan is definitely his home,and Jordanians are his people.

The program was filmed in his restaurant, and around the streets of Amman,and they showed us old pictures from his archives .It was all so interesting to watch.With more than 15 chinese restaurants (I should think) in Amman,Abu Khalil still holds a special place in a lot of Jordanians hearts.Is it because it was the first and oldest and still running beautifully.Is it because it lies in one of the dearest corners of Jabal Amman neighborhood,or is it because they have the best chinese in town,I can not tell.There is a big variety of Asian Restaurants nowadays,(and more to come real soon),from fast food to five star quality places,but this place is really something else!

So if you haven't figured ot what you're having for lunch today...there you go!