A Touch of Spice

Granpa often said that the Greek word for

"dream" conceals within the word "belch".

Initially, I paid no notice as

I could only do these 2 things.

Years after, I realised he was

referring to food and stories.

Both require an essential

ritual in order to be tastier.

That is, the presentation.

I'm either seeing something

non-existent or invisible.

- When did we change the ink?

- Today, just before you arrived.

- It's set for the highest resolution.

- The problem is the colour.

With what I see we should either

receive a Nobel or get a new printer.

I guess that's it

for this semester.

Day after tomorrow I'm go on leave

so I'll see you all next year.

Hope it all goes well. I'm

waiting on your dissertation.

Fani my boy, how are you?

Doctor!

- How did you find me?

- All of Faliro talks about you.

Come... Come, sit down.

Is anything wrong?

I'll tell you something l

shouldn't, but now...

What is it, Doctor?

Your grandpa is coming.

- When?

- On Thursday.

But I'm leaving

on Thursday.

It was meant to be surprise but

I heard you're leaving so I rushed.

Fanis, you should

surprise him.

I'll go to the airport

and you can wait home.

We'll call his old friends and

you can cook some appetizers...

so we can have a drink

to welcome him.

Remember as a boy how you

used to cook all night?

So grandpa will sit here

and his friends there...

No, grandpa will sit there.

Resembles the Last Supper...

No, grandpa will sit here...

Good... And now,

grandpa's friends...

Grandpa's friends are an unusual

clan because they're from lstanbul.

Their origin sets them apart both

historically and biologically.

Can you direct me

to Halcyone Street?

First and foremost,

they are "magnetized."

It's like a compass that with

every geographical question...

it re-orients their identity.

Who they are, their origins

and where they are going.

- That way.

- Thank you...

This idiosyncracy is related

to their dietary habits.

For most, food involves the

sense of smell and taste.

For grandpa's friends it also

involves sound and sight.

Hello to you all! You all arrived

at the same time. Come in!

- Did you find it easily?

- We came from THlSSEAS Street.

But THlSSEAS Street isn't

that way, it's that way.

He's right,

that's how we came.

Should we have

a toast to grandpa?

Where is he then?

A bit late, I'd say.

The plane landed

about an hour ago, so...

- lt'll be a great surprise.

- He hasn't seen you in so long.

I fear certain sounds when

they occur just before a meal.

Every major event in my life

began with the sound of a doorbell,

or the sound of a phone.

Yes... Doctor...

Isn't he here?

What do you mean he's not?

Maybe he got lost...

What?

Where did it happen?

Constantinople (lstanbul), 1959

The Appetizers

To speak about our cuisine, you

have to start with the spices.

I learned the first secrets of

spices at grandpa's store...

on the east bank

of the Vosporos.

- Good day, Mr. Vasilis.

- Dorothea, what can I get you?

I'd like some cumin,

dried fish and vine leaves...

A lire, please.

- Why so much?

- I'll be making meatballs.

- Pantelis will also be there.

- With the family?

- Don't use cumin then.

- What should I use?

Cinnamon...

Mr. Vasilis, we never

put cinnamon in meatballs.

Dorothea, listen to me...

Sometimes we have to use the

wrong spice to get a point across.

Add something different...

Cumin is a strong spice,

It turns people inwards.

Cinnamon makes people look

each other in the eyes.

If you want to say "yes",

then add cinammon.

Thank you, Mr. Vassilis.

Where are

my pyjama bottoms?

Aren't they with

your pyjama top?

- I can't find them.

- I had them together...

Hold on...

I'm coming.

Spices were behind some of the

biggest wars in history...

one of which I caused

...in our own house.

- Cinnamon again?

- Of course not!

Should I believe you or my

nose? I can smell cinnamon!

I'm telling you,

there's no cinnamon.

I've told you many times. Cinnamon

and meatballs don't mix!

- But you only listen to your mother!

- She was the best cook!

My mother was the best

cook in Tsihangir!

You use cinnamon

if the meat is off.

You had no refrigerator back then

and used cinnamon as a preservative.

We were the first with household to get

a fridge. The American consul sent it!

With so many Americans around

your house, why did you marry me?

If I had a choice, do you think

I'd have married you?

The arguments were silly hiding

issues of historical importance.

What do you know

about Paleologos?

All the books

talk about him!

Don't you speak about him and

history in front of the kid, ok?

I never heard that Paleologos

ate meatballs with cinnamon!

Grandpa said the word "Gastronomer"

conceals within it the word "Astronomer".

As such, my lessons in astro-

nomy involved the use of spices.

I talk, you taste

and think, O. K.?

Here we go...

Pepper, warm and it burns...

The sun...

- What does the sun see?

- Everything.

Exactly! That is why pepper

goes with all foods.

Next we have Mercury,

It's hot too...

and then Venus.

Cinnamon...

Venus was the most

beautiful of all women.

That's why cinnamon is sweet

and bitter, just like all women.

Then we have Earth.

What do we have on earth?

Life...

Exactly, there is

life on earth.

And what do we need

to stay alive?

Food...

- And what makes food tastier?

- Salt...

Our lives need salt too.

Both food and life require

salt in order to be tastier.

On Sundays the family would

gather for a culinary feast.

All women would help, even aunt

Elpiniki, who suffered from Parkinson's.

Aunt Eleftheria was

the most competitive...

she knew all the secrets

of an exceptional dish.

To be on top, she'd hand

out her recipes...

but never quite correct.

I'll tell you, but you must

keep it to yourself.

- Saut? the onion in oil.

- I know that...

- The leaves must soak overnight.

- I know that too.

Once the stuffing

is ready...

you add some

ground "kisa mamout."

Isn't that bitter?

On its own yes, but it's excellent

for delicious dolmades.

- Are you trying to poison us?

- I followed her instructions!

- But you added nettles!

- No, it was "kisa mamout."

That's what our mother gave us

to clear up our acne!

Then why did she tell me

to add it to the dolmades?

What I longed for most was an

engagement in the community.

Prerequisite for

a wedding to occur...

was the prospective bride's "initiation"

to the cuisine of Constantinople.

Don't be afraid.

It's already dead!

But it will be tasty. They'll

be licking their fingers.

- Firstly, we add the spices.

- Always "hide" garlic and onion.

Emilios says that women in

Morrocco "hide" garlic in meat.

Aunt, keep quiet!

Oregano is all it needs and

if you add a touch of nutmeg...

We'll have

a feast on Sunday!

Come in, Osman Bey.

How are you?

Very well. And how are

you, Mr. Vasilis?

Very well. You look

handsome today, Mustafa.

When will you drop by

and play with Fanis?

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