Ingredient appreciation — what makes Fesenjan special

What sets Fesenjan apart is the handling of dried limes. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the sweet-sour with pomegranate result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Iranian cuisine has a 3000-year recorded history with influences on Arab, Turkish, and Central Asian cooking. The a communal sofreh tablecloth feast atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had hot black tea with sugar as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Fesenjan is the place to start.