"History leaves its marks through a region's architecture, music, markets, literary arts... and most of all, through its cuisine." So observes Palestinian writer and chef Reem Kassis (The Palestinian Table) in The Arabesque Table: Contemporary Recipes from the Arab World. This stunning cookbook is a celebration of the centuries of migration and trade that shaped the evolution of Arab food, filled with well-researched food history and rich, evocative family memories.
Kassis's own personal history somewhat mirrors that of the cultures she discusses, since she has lived in several locales--from Jerusalem to the U.K. and now the U.S.--which have all left their mark on her own cuisine. The food within the pages is inspired by the entire Arab region, primarily focusing on the Levant (present-day Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan), where the author has her most personal memories. Kassis takes readers to the gardens and cities of her childhood in scenes that bring life to her favorite recipes.
The recipes are easy to follow; the food and the photography--vibrant! Organized by primary ingredient, The Arabesque Table contains 130 recipes that will please chefs who are looking to add nuanced flavors of Arab cuisine to their home menus. From Sudanese Peanut Butter Eggplant Mutabal to Muhallabiyeh and Hibiscus Rose Tart, Kassis offers a varied assortment of appetizers, mains and sweets from which to choose.
The Arabesque Table showcases how cuisines evolve with their culture, highlighting dishes found in the earliest Arabic writings, along with ways those recipes are being reinvigorated by cooks of today. --Grace Rajendran, freelance reviewer and literary events producer