My first day on the island of Cyprus, I was stressed out and jetlagged. The fact that I was here on a tiny island in the Mediterranean had not hit yet. A group of us after dinner were wandering around Larnaca when we came across Lokmakos, which at first looked like a nice place to get gelato. As we perused the menu, we realized that it was not just gelato but handmade donut holes served with gelato. Behind the counter we could watch the staff fry these small dough balls as the desserts were made to order. I ordered the Cyprus classic, which was the donut holes or Lokma with a sugar coating, honey, and vanilla ice cream. We all waited patiently for our Lokma and when they were handed to us, we went through a back door of the shop which led to a beautiful courtyard. We sat on a stone structure in the middle of a stunning courtyard and tried our Lokmakos. They are the best dessert I have ever had. They are crunchy on the outside and doughy on the inside and the gelato pairs perfectly with the small donut holes. As I sat there eating my Lokma it finally hit me. After all the investigating, planning, and brutal travel, I had finally made it to Larnaca, Cyprus, an island that is full of a mix of so many peoples and traditions. I was sitting on stone eating a food that has been tied to 13^th century Arabic cookbooks. Lokma is a dessert with a deep history. It is mentioned often in One Thousand and One Nights and was made by palace cooks during the reign of the Ottoman empire. It has traditionally been served as fried dough balls soaked in honey or syrup. Not only does it have origins in Arabic culture, but it also served and tied to Greek, Turkish, and of course Cypriot culture. Lokma are an important part of the food cultures for these countries. On a whim I was able to try these amazing donut holes that connect me to the culture of many people over thousands of years. I am so very glad I decided to stop at Lokmako as not only did it bring me to the reality of being on this island but they are absolutely delicious.

Madi Barber