Gourmantic recently celebrated its second anniversary, and with nearly 400 articles under its belt, it’s time for a little navel-gazing. The purpose is not to ascertain how much weight has been gained from delectable food and drink experiences but to review the progress and reminisce about good times in travel writing. My 7 Links is [...]

The Food of Aleppo The ancient city of Aleppo (Halab – Alep) prides itself on the best cuisine in the Middle East. Such a reputation often intrigues travelling gourmands so before departing on our trip to Syria, I consulted Aleppian people in the know and collated a list of food and drink they considered to [...]

The people of Aleppo have a shared passion. Not only do they pride themselves in food that is steeped in culinary traditions and guard their recipes close to heart, they undeniably affirm their cuisine as the best in the Middle East. As one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities, Aleppo’s cuisine takes inspiration from the [...]

Tchak Tchak Tchak That’s the sound of the coppersmiths at work as you approach Khan Al Nahasin, the copper market in Aleppo. Tchak Tchak Tchak. Your footsteps on the cobblestones echo their rhythm. The Aleppian khan or souk dates back to the 16th century when it was the epicentre of copper trade in the Syrian [...]

If you speak to a resident of Aleppo or a national living abroad, you’ll soon discover that Aleppians share a common passion. They pride themselves in their cuisine and unequivocally declare theirs to be the best in the Middle East. With a strong attachment to culinary traditions, their recipes are well-guarded. The home cook learns [...]

On the approach to the ancient city of Aleppo in Syria, if like you, your car overheats and stops on the road don’t fret. There is always a willing local or a fellow traveller who is keen to lend a hand. Or his car. With the nearest petrol station only a few of kilometres away, [...]