In this episode, Chef Fadi and historian Kotoz embark on a gastronomic adventure, tracing the origins of Arab cuisine and its influence on contemporary food. Kotoz Ahmed, a researcher, and Fadi Kattan, a Palestinian chef, explore the culinary traditions that have survived through time.
In their second episode, they travel to the Spanish city of Cordoba where they uncover the sweet heritage left behind by the Muslims of Spain. Despite the expulsions of 1492, some Muslims remained, carefully preserving their Andalusian cuisine. Kotoz prepares a similar sweet using a 13th-century Arabic text, The Best of Delectable Food of al-Andalus, as a guide.
Kotoz and Fadi then head to Morocco to explore a dish that was shared by both Jews and Muslims on the last day of Passover. Along their journey, they come across a 14th-century manuscript called Treasure Trove of Benefits and Variety at the Table, which is housed in the library in Gotha, Germany. This historic manuscript provides valuable insights into the Egyptian culinary legacy during the Mamluk era.
