Celestial Dining to Entice

In the celestial realm of Paradise, the atmosphere has grown somber. Nightly discussions among Arab scholars, spanning from the classical to the medieval periods and even the present day, have reached an impasse. Conversations aimed at finding solutions for the earthly world below seem increasingly futile, as if history’s lessons have been forgotten or ignored. The vibrant mood once prevalent in Paradise has given way to listlessness and gloom.

But what if the key to reigniting joy and inspiration lies in an age-old universal tradition: sharing a meal? That’s right, a food contest! Celestial Dining to Entice: An Arab Food Contest in Paradise aims to shift the narrative from despair to delight. Scholars present their chosen medieval Arab dishes, each accompanied by personal stories that reveal who they are and why they’ve selected their dish.

The contest does more than just brighten the atmosphere; it serves as a poignant reminder that history may have its lessons, but food possesses the timeless power to unite and uplift. Experience a celestial gathering where heavenly flavours meet earthly concerns, and discover how even in Paradise, the simple joy of sharing a meal can transform the spirit.

Leila Salloum Elias resides in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. She holds an M.A. in Middle East and Islamic Studies from the University of Toronto, specializing in literature and Arab history. She is author of The Dream and Then the Nightmare—The Syrians who Boarded the Titanic. She is co-author of The Sweets of Araby (W.W. Norton, 2011); Sheherazade’s Feasts: Medieval Arab Cookery (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2013); Sweet Delights from a Thousand and One Nights (I.B. Tauris, 2013); and The Scent of Pomegranates and Rosewater: Reviving the Beautiful Food Traditions of Syria (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2018). She is currently completing a new edition of the original study of English words of Arabic origin initiated by her father, the late Habeeb Salloum.

Muna Salloum resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She holds an M.A. in Middle East and Islamic Studies from the University of Toronto, specializing in socio-economic history of the Arabs in Spain. She is co-author of The Sweets of Araby (W.W. Norton, 2011); Sheherazade’s Feasts: Medieval Arab Cookery (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2013); Sweet Delights from a Thousand and One Nights (I.B. Tauris, 2013); and The Scent of Pomegranates and Rosewater: Reviving the Beautiful Food Traditions of Syria (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2018). Muna is currently completing a research study of Spanish words of Arabic origin co-authored with her father, the late Habeeb Salloum.