About the Book
With a personal, engaging voice, The Arabesque Table bridges past and present to open up the world of Arabic cooking today, showcasing a mosaic of 130 delicious, accessible home recipes. Organized by primary ingredient, the recipes and vivid photographs bring the dishes to life while the narrative offers not only a sense of taste, but a sense of time and place as well.
More than just a compilation of modern Arabic recipes, The Arabesque Table celebrates the evolution of Arab cuisine and the stories of cross-cultural connection it recounts. Paying tribute to the history leading to this point, the book shows how cuisine, just like the arabesque patterns that inspired the title, is inherently intertwined and cross cultural, even as it remains crucial in defining the relationship between people, place and identity.
"THE ARABESQUE TABLE is full to the brim with dishes which are rooted in tradition and at the same time creatively (and deliciously!) transcend it. I think it is wonderful!"
YOTAM OTTOLENGHI
About the Book
Winner of the Guild of Food Writers First Book Award and James Beard nominee for Best International Cookbook, The Palestinian Table is inspired by three generations of family tradition and weaves together a tapestry of personal anecdotes, local customs, historical context and nearly 150 recipes to create a feast for the senses. It take readers on a gastronomic journey across Palestine, showcasing the rich culinary history of the area and giving rare insight into the heart of the Palestinian family kitchen.
Specially commissioned photographs of recipes, ranging from simple breakfasts and speedy salads to celebratory meals fit for a feast, bring these vibrant dishes to life. This sophisticated and approachable book is a must-have for those keen to discover more about the region’s culture, cooking and way of life, and those who appreciate the simple pleasures of being in the kitchen and the enriching power of food.
"With The Palestinian Table, Reem Kassis gracefully demonstrates the power of food to transcend the political divisions that are, too often, all we know of a place like Palestine. Reading and cooking from this essential book--a thoughtful collection of great recipes, historical and cultural insights, and beautiful photographs--will move you closer to understanding this complex, fascinating part of the world."
ANTHONY BOURDAIN
Praise for The Palestinian Table
1
Bethany Kehdy - Author of The Jewelled Kitchen
“Reem’s cookbook is a joyful celebration of traditional Palestinian cooking written with so much love, integrity and context. A must have for the recipes as well as the writing and story-telling.”
2
Yasmin Khan - Author of The Saffron Tales
“A beautiful celebration of Palestinian home cooking and an important contribution to the conservation of Palestine's culinary heritage."
3
Maureen Abood - Author of Rose Water and Orange Blossoms
Your mouth will water as mine does reading Reem’s succulent Palestinian recipes! I feel a great debt of gratitude to her for giving us this glorious invitation to taste the flavors of The Palestinian Table. I can’t wait to get into the kitchen and bring Reem’s delicious world into my own."
Behind the Scenes into The Palestinian Table
Stuffed Grape Leaves with Lamb Chops
Meat Dumplings in Cooked Yogurt Sauce
Cabbage Leaves Stuffed with Rice and Meat
Chickens Stuffed with Spiced Rice, Meat, and Pine Nuts
Cauliflower Fritters
Lamb and Yogurt Stew over Bread and Rice
