A historian and a chef embark on a historical culinary quest, exploring the evolution of Arab cuisine and its impact on modern food and flavors. Together, Kotoz, an expert in Arab food history, and Fadi Kattan, a distinguished Palestinian chef, traverse Europe in search of ancient recipe manuscripts originating from the era of Arab dynasties and empires.
In the first episode of their journey, they begin in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, where they stumble upon The Book of Dishes, the oldest known Arabic cookbook. This historical text provides insight into ninth-century rivalries, including the story of Ziryab, a singer-musician who fell out of favor in the court of Baghdad and sought refuge in Cordoba, located in Muslim al-Andalus. Ziryab brought with him his expertise in music, the arts, fashion, and cookery, gaining fame for a stew known as Green Tafaya.
Kotoz expertly recreates the Ziryab’s Green Tafaya recipe in a modern kitchen, paying homage to its original creation over a millennium ago.
