4. The Exotic Element

The epithet ghareeb (exotic, unusual), when used to describe a dish, was a high compliment in the Abbasid society. Any boon companion worth his wine, so to speak, was expected to master no less than ten exotic dishes. Introducing foreign, unfamiliar elements into an already rich repertoire was therefore encouraged. The region’s affluence, active trade, and Baghdad’s cosmopolitan nature played a big role in this. Slave girls, for instance, were brought from near and far, and the excellent cooks among them were valuable commodities.