From ancient Baghdad, recipes for, and the stories behind, exotic and unusual treats.

Centuries have passed since the time of the 1001 Arabian Nights, but those classic tales, with their romance, passion, and vibrancy, continue to inspire and ignite imaginations. Within Scheherazade's brilliant stories for her husband, King Shahryar, we learn of the vibrant life of Baghdad, Damascus, and Cairo in the 9th century as well as of certain key persons and how they functioned in society.

Food-sweets, specifically--plays an important part in 1001 Arabian Nights; it is currency, temptation, sustenance. Delicious sweets are the link between that historical work and this modern one. The Sweets of Araby offers us exotic treats and the translated tales they come from. Sisters Leila Salloum Elias and Muna Salloum worked with the ancient Arabic text of The 1001 Arabian Nights to find recipes and translate their stories, literally bringing back to life evocative stories with recipes transformed to suit modern kitchens and tastes. Beautifully illustrated with original paintings by Linda Dalal Sawaya, this delectable treasure belongs in every 21st-century kitchen.