Falafel balls. Andrea / Pixabay.com / 2017 / CC0 1.0
The 12th of June is International Falafel Day.
Not everyone has tried falafel, but once they do, they tend to love it, and what’s not to love? Crunchy on the outside, soft, savoury and spicy on the inside.
Falafel is a popular street food in many parts of the world. In some parts of the world, you can even get it at McDonald’s.
Do you like your falafel balls as part of a platter, or in a salad bowl, or in a wrap as a sandwich? As a snack pack? With tahini, or hummus, or both?
Do you prefer yours made from chickpea or fava beans?
Do you have a favourite place or falafel truck you get yours from?
What eastern Mediterranean city or country would you most like to be eating falafel in right now?
Website: http://falafelday.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/falafelday
#FalafelDay #InternationalFalafelDay
See also: Falafel
Activities for today
- treat yourself to falafel for breakfast, lunch and dinner;
- buy a falafel mix from the grocery store and make some; OR
- find a recipe and make falafel from scratch;
- lighter-versions can be made by baking or air-frying instead of deep frying;
- look for deals, maybe 2 for 1 specials.
History
Falafel Day was started in 2012 by 18-year-old Ben Lang.
“First it was hummus, now it’s falafel. It was serial entrepreneur and IDF soldier, 18-year-old Ben Lang, a recent American immigrant to Israel, who pioneered Hummus Day, held last month on May 15. He’s hoping for a better showing on Tuesday’s International Falafel Day, with thousands, nay, millions eating, tweeting (#falafelday), photographing and Facebooking about falafel, that favorite Middle Eastern fried chickpea treat. Hummus Day, said Lang, was a sorely underplanned event, and he wondered how far he could get with a bit more preparation, given that hummus-related mentions and events “exploded on the event day itself.” [1]Bronstein, Dani. Hummus Day pioneer Ben Lang garners fans for that other chickpea treat on Tuesday’s International Falafel Day. Jerusalem, Israel: The Times of Israel. 12 June 2012. Accessed May 2021 at https://www.timesofisrael.com/lovers-of-falafel-are-never-friers/.
In 2019, Google released a doodle for Falafel Day, which has been archived here: https://www.google.com/doodles/celebrating-falafel (link valid as of May 2021).
Further reading
Beck, Leslie. I love falafel. Is it actually healthy? Toronto, Canada: The Globe and Mail. 17 January 2012. (Link valid as of May 2021)
Sources
Barrett, Teri Tsang. Celebrate International Falafel Day With Free Taïm. New York, New York: The Village Voice. 9 June 2017. Accessed May 2021 at https://www.villagevoice.com/2017/06/09/celebrate-international-falafel-day-with-a-free-sandwich-from-taim/
Celebrate International Falafel Day at these 10 Toronto hot spots. Toronto.com. 5 June 2017. Accessed May 2021 at https://www.toronto.com/shopping-story/7352820-celebrate-international-falafel-day-at-these-10-toronto-hot-spots/
Naf Naf Celebrates International Falafel Day with Buy One, Get One Falafel Entrée Offer. Business Wire. 5 June 2019. Accessed May 2021 at https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190605005163/en/Naf-Naf-Celebrates-International-Falafel-Day-with-Buy-One-Get-One-Falafel-Entr%C3%A9e-Offer
Zalman, Jonathan. It’s International Falafel Day! New York, New York: Tablet Magazine. 12 June 2015. Accessed May 2021 at https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/its-international-falafel-day
References
| ↑1 | Bronstein, Dani. Hummus Day pioneer Ben Lang garners fans for that other chickpea treat on Tuesday’s International Falafel Day. Jerusalem, Israel: The Times of Israel. 12 June 2012. Accessed May 2021 at https://www.timesofisrael.com/lovers-of-falafel-are-never-friers/ |
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