Partaking of the Spirit of the Gourd

I have wanted to make a dish with pointed gourd or parval for sometime. However, I had searched high and low for the elusive little gourd with no success.

To my delight, I found parval in the frozen food section of a local Mediterranean grocery store several weeks ago. There were several different types of edible gourds. I purchased the pointed gourd and the spicky gourd or kantola because I was feeling adventurous.

I found two gourd recipes online. One recipe was for pointed gourd with potato. And, the other recipe was for roasted spicky gourd. I located all the ingredients and prepared the two dishes. In addition, I designed an invitation to present to my co-workers and friends (tasters). Then, I took my show on the road.

Twelve people were adventurous enough to partake of the spirit of the gourd including myself. We all liked the pointed gourd with potato recipe. Three of the twelve liked the roasted spicky gourd as much as they liked the pointed gourd dish. No one disliked the spicky gourd. However, its appearance and texture put it in the category of interesting.

All in all, I enjoyed the whole process. Thank you all for your support.

Urban Gourd Couture

Couture garment, Bustier with the Mostness, made of gourd, fabric, metal eyelets, glass beads, feathers, acrylic paint and polycrylic sealant. Measurements: 34D. Inventory No.: 2643. If you love this design, click here to see more of my fashion accessories.

Note: This garment was inspired by an exhibition I attended recently entitled, Fabric-Free Fashion. It featured 22 fashion designers who crafted garments out of everything except fabric including window screen, plastic forks and maps. Why not gourds?

Bustier design by Sala Faruq. Photo by Sala Faruq. Copyright © 2011 by Sala Faruq. All rights reserved.

Metallic Gourd Necklace

Metallic gourd necklace, Fabiola, made of gourd, metal leaf, wood, brass, ribbon, acrylic paint and polycrylic sealant; hand fabricated, hand painted and sealed. Measurements: Pendant: 8-1/2 x 6 x 2 inches; Ribbon: 38 inches. Inventory No.: 2644. If you love this design, click here to see more of my gourd jewelry creations.

Necklace design by Sala Faruq. Photo by Sala Faruq. Copyright © 2011 by Sala Faruq. All rights reserved.

Organic Metallic Gourd Ring

Ring, The Divine RuPaul, made of gourd, dried root ball, paperclay, metal leaf, acrylic paint, polycrylic sealant; hand fabricated, hand painted. Measurements: 3-3/4 x 2-3/4 x 2-3/4 inches. Inventory No.: 2642. If you love this design, click here to see more of my gourd jewelry creations. Ring design by Sala Faruq. Photo by Joseph Naskar. Copyright © 2011 by Sala Faruq. All rights reserved.

Gourd Jewelry Creation

Bracelet, Ponti, made of gourd, metal leaf, acrylic paint, polycrylic sealant; hand fabricated, hand painted. Measurements: 3-1/2 x x 4 x 4 inches. Inventory No.: 2631.

If you love this design, click here to see more of my gourd jewelry creations.

Bracelet design by Sala Faruq. Photo by Sala Faruq. Copyright © 2011 by Sala Faruq. All rights reserved.

Gourd Jewelry Creation

Belt buckle, Donatella, made of gourd, metal button, recycled belt metal buckle, paperclay, felt, acrylic paint, polycrylic sealant; hand fabricated. Measurements: 4 -1/8 x 1 x 4-1/8 inches.

Belt buckle design by Sala Faruq. Photos by Sala Faruq. Copyright © 2010 by Sala Faruq. All rights reserved.