Before Iran was making headlines with its nuclear program, we often pictured the country as a shimmering mirage arising from the Dasht-e Lut (a Persian desert), where the earth meets the infinite turquoise of the sky. The word "Persia" conjured images of jeweled carpets, exquisite buildings encrusted with mosaics and lush gardens perfumed with jasmine and roses. As one of my high school teachers put it, when she thought of Iran she remembered a photo from the 1930s showing a caravan laden with exotic spices bound for the bazaars of Tehran. Were these images unrealistic? Were they too antiquated to relate to modern Iran?
The ancient Greek historian Herodotus described Persian cuisine as “a model of civilization ... and the epitome of alimentary sophistication.” Herodotus went on to describe the Iranians: “There is no nation which so readily adopts foreign customs as the Persians ... As soon as they hear of luxury, they instantly make it their own.”
