Kurdish poetry and specialties

“Take the cup in your hand”: the quatrain by Omar Khayyam (Persian poet, 1048–1131) on the sheet/tablecloth prompts us to order a full-bodied 13-proof Armenian wine to accompany our lunch in Kirkuk. Hummus, eggplant cream, feta, and falafel are our shared dish. I delight in veal, lamb, and cracked wheat meatballs, while the other diners choose rice-stuffed vine leaf, cabbage, and onion rolls. We finish with cheerful sweets while sipping a curious cardamom tea.