esfahan take a break2

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Isfahan is located on the main north-south and east-west routes crossing Iran, and was once one of the largest cities in the world. It flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly in the 16th century under the Safavid dynasty, when it became the capital of Persia for the second time in its history. Even today, the city retains much of its past glory. It is famous for its Islamic architecture, with many beautiful boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, mosques, and minarets. This led to the Persian proverb "'Esfahān nesf-e jahān ast" (Isfahan is half of the world).

Ispahan este situat în centrul Iranului, în mijlocul platoului iranian, la 1.574 m altitudine. Prin această zonă trece lan ul mun ilor ț țZagros, care o traversează de la nord-vest spre sud-est. Ispahan î i șdatorează importan a mai ales țrâului Zayandeh Rud, care a dat na tere unei adevărate oaze în șmijlocul platoului acoperit de nisipuri.

The food in Iran favors fresh vegetables and fruits along with long grain rice, bread and grilled meats. Kebab is the most common preparation of meat, did you know that came from Iran?

In the shadow of the Imam Mosque, the Bastani is may be the best-located restaurant in Isfahan.

As always, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the local customs before visiting a new place. In Iran, for example, it's not polite to blow your nose in company and it is not customary for men and women to shake hands. It is better to err on the side of caution if you are not sure how to avoid offending someone.

The entire restaurant has been restored in the Safavid style with beautiful frescoes and mirrored accents

It’s hot and cold

The stomach is saved from too much meat-overload damage, however, by the guiding principle of Persian cuisine – the philosophy of hot and cold food. This has nothing to do with temperature, but rather whether the food has a heating or cooling effect on the body. ‘Hot’ foods are thought to speed the metabolism and ‘cold’ foods slow it.

Persian food is sophisticated, tasty and complex. The Persians have, for centuries, paid close attention to food’s impact on the body’s health and well-being through this principle. To a westerner, the easiest way to explain it is to say it relates roughly to alkaline and acidic foods, although it does not strictly correspond and is slightly more complicated than that.Having a balance of hot and cold food in every dish is the principle guidance behind meals. The famous dish of fesenjun, which is a pomegranate and walnut sauce served over chicken and rice, is balanced because the pomegranates are ‘cold’ and the walnuts are ‘hot’.

Kebabs, therefore, which are ‘hot’, will generally be served with ‘cold’ sides such as radishes or greens. If yoghurt isn’t served with the kebab or before it, you should drink the salty, minted yoghurt drink called doogh with your meal. Fresh green herbs are often served in a bowl on the table for you at add to your meal at liberty. If you can’t fit in some watermelon or dates after your kebab meal, you’d better at least suck on a lemon!

Remember to use only your right hand for communal eating and don't blow your nose at the table.

Sound: Dariush -Yavareh Hamisheh Momen

Text : Internet

Pictures: Sanda Foi oreanuş

Nicoleta LeuCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Arangement: Sanda Foi oreanuşwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Iran