What do you feel is the significance of cooking for Amineh?

What do you feel is the significance of cooking for Amineh? Consider the idea of letāfat, the tender touch. What does it mean as far as preparing a meal goes, and does there exist a similar notion in the West? Was there a meal scene that you particularly enjoyed?

I felt it was an expression of her creativity -- one which was acceptable for a woman in her culture.

Cooking was a way for Amineh to experience many different things - love, appreciation, positive memories, friendship and her own creativity. For much of her life it was the only way she was able to be herself as well as be what was expected of a woman in her culture.

I thought the cooking was one of the best parts of the book. I could almost smell the food when reading. Culturally I know from a friend, food is very important and by cooking, the food represents the care and love a woman shows for her family. I also agree with one responder that cooking was a creative experience and since she wasn't really writing her novel, she could express herself this way.

As some of you have already mentioned the cooking was her creative outlet. She also seemed to sense what kind of meal would be best for any situation with an aim to please and show her love for those she was serving. I think it helped to calm her in some of those difficult situations.

I think the cooking helps her deal with her feelings and what is going on in her life. Food represents things that are fresh, good, calms the soul, brings people together.

Amineh seemed to have a natural talent for cooking, so I think her abilities in the kitchen added to her self esteem. It was something she could be proud of, a way to express her love and appreciation of her family and friends, and it was an accepted skill for women in her country.

Her cooking was one of the main ways she could prove her worth. She gave love through her cooking, hoping for love in return for what she had given.

Cooking was Amineh's way of making a difference in people's lives. It was evident that she could "read the situation" and plan a meal that would offer "salve" in the conflicting views. I agree that cooking was her creative way of facing the issues in her own life. Interesting, that cooking was her only outlet to resolve issues. This is somewhat sad for me to think about since Amineh was a thinking, knowledgeable person who had a lot to offer to her family and her surrounding culture.

I agree with the other responders; cooking was a culturally accepted way for amineh to connect with others, show her love and support, tap into her natural compassion and of course, her neglected creative expression.

I agree with others that is was a way she could express her creativity. It was also something she could control.

Connection - to her past, to herself, to her future self.

I agree with the above, but I'd like to add that it was also something that she could control, something she was good at. It seems like so much of her life wasn't in her control that this was one thing that she could do with confidence.

I think cooking was one of the only ways a woman could express herself and get praised for it. It was something where it was acceptable for a woman to be better than men.

I feel like for Amineh cooking signifies her way of being close to people. It is her way of showing love. She puts everything she has into the meals she cooks (finding the right ingredients, searching for spices, worrying about how others will like it). It is her connection to her mother, as well. Cooking for people is a way to show people you care about them.

I felt that cooking had several significances for Amineh it started out with her showing her new family/husband that she could be a dutiful member of her culture, it was also stress relief for her when she was upset, showed love for family and keeping her culture alive, and it connected her to the outside world and something of her own to be proud of.

It was an art form that appealed to her senses—and her memories of childhood in a rose-growing area…an art form that she could use to express her love to others, one that was acceptable and desirable for women. In short, a way to affirm her self-worth, even though she knew she was neglecting other ambitions.

cooking is a way to feel connected to your past, when you make familiar dishes, it can comfort you. Also, a way of caring and loving another person... the descriptions of the food in this book, certainly made me hungry! I love middle eastern food with all of their colorful spices and scents...

The food in this book is practically a character unto itself! I loved the descriptions and now am curious to try Iranian food. I thought that Amina's cooking was clearly an expression of love for her family and friends. Also, the effort and thoughtfulness she put into the food honors her heritage and culture. Additionally, it was a creative outlet for her since she was mainly a stay-at-home parent. It was a way to feel like she was contributing to the world and she basked in the attention and praise her beautiful meals elicited from her family and friends.