Photo courtesy of Jo Amado

Dear Santa, I know that when I visited you at Quakerbridge Mall yesterday, I asked you for Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue: An American Life, a Snuggie, and Isotoners. I would like to retract my previous Christmas wishes in favor of another. You see, everything changed for me today when I received the photo above from a friend in Adana, Turkey. I had heard about it but this was the first time I had seen photographic evidence of the legendary takviye, a meter long spicy lamb kebab. Will you send one to me for Christmas? I know you understand the importance of food. You were looking more portly than usual yesterday. And if it is not too much trouble, I would also like some mezes and rakı, but my real priority here is the Adana kebab. In return, I promise not to eat all of your cookies before you get here.

Thanks Santa!

Katie Parla