Chef Fadi and historian Kotoz embark on a historic culinary exploration to uncover the origins of Arab cuisine and its impact on contemporary flavors. Kotoz Ahmed, an expert in Arabian food history, joins forces with Fadi Kattan, a celebrated Palestinian chef, on a journey across Europe. Their mission is to discover ancient recipe manuscripts from the era of Arab dynasties and empires. In the final episode, they discover how Cairo emerged as a cultural hub, thanks to the Silk Road, which linked Egypt to China, Russia, India, Iraq, and the Levantine merchants, who controlled the spice trade during the Mamluk era. Additionally, they learn about Aleppo, a significant melting pot situated at the intersection of various trade routes. One of its 13th-century books introduced the idea of food as a source of pleasure, incorporating perfumes, fragrances, and medicinal oils into cookery, which was an innovation at the time. Kotoz concludes the adventure by preparing al Mashoka, meaning “The Adored,” using exotic ingredients from Arabia, Aleppo, and spices from the Far East.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/program/al-jazeera-world/2025/3/25/flavours-of-the-arab-golden-age-ep-3-aleppo-and-the-silk?traffic_source=rss