Pomegranates and Artichokes: A Food Journey from Iran to Italy

An Iranian expat who has lived in Italy for more than fifteen years, Saghar Setareh explores here the links between the two counties' cuisines. Venturing beyond the surface connections between Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking, she illuminates a spectrum of dishes, some of them sharing historical origins and others similarities of inspiration and purpose.

Pomegranates and Artichokes is as much a reader's book as it is a cook's (though we know that for many people those are not exclusive descriptions). Setareh's headnotes richly describe Italian and Iranian culinary culture, offering vignettes of everyday meals, friendly lunches and afternoon coffees, and family gatherings.

In addition to large sections on Iran and Italy, as part of her exploration of the links between the two countries, Setareh's book includes a smaller section called "In Between," in which she surveys foods which seem to have a place in nearly all the intervening lands.

There are more detailed books on both Iranian and Italian cooking, but the thoughtfulness of Pomegrantes and Artichokes provides rewards for readers who contemplate how food migrates and evolves, and who take pleasure in discovering commonalities.

Hardcover. Color photographs throughout.