A Come Dine Palestine social in Kirkcudbright raised more than £300 for an international charity.
The Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) event was organised by John and Lynsey McIntosh at their home on Tongland Road.
Around 20 guests were treated to a festive feast of Palestinian food prepared by John’s extended family.
Dishes included tabbouleh – a parsley and bulgur wheat salad with mint, lemon, mint, onion and tomato – pomegranate and tomato salad and chicken za’atar with Palestinian spices, red onion and lemon.
Sweet was a traditional Levant dish – rice pudding infused with orange blossom and topped with pistachios.
John said afterwards: “It was a MAP fundraising idea. Lynsey’s sister Anne Bryce was the main inspiration behind the cooking.
“She led the chef team which included Lynsey and our daughters Laurie and Rosie.”
As part of the evening John gave a talk and slide show of his Cycle Palestine ride in aid of MAP in September.
He added: “We were really happy with how the evening went.
“We got a lot of comments from folk about how they had learned a lot about the situation.
“There was a general sense that it was a real eye opener for them because the media give a very partial picture.
“They were very grateful that they had learned a lot more about what’s going on in the occupied territories.
“But just as importantly they loved the food – and the social aspect of the evening too.
“On behalf of myself, Lynsey, Ann, Graham, Laurie and Rosie, I just want to say a big thank you to everybody for coming along.”
