Book excerpt: Heady spices, creamy tahini, tender lamb, fragrant rosewater, and fresh, salty cheeses. Enter the exotic world of Syrian cooking. Sharon Salloum, co-owner and chef of Almond Bar restaurant in Sydney, was brought up in a traditional Syrian household, where a steady stream of friends and family were welcomed with generous offerings of food and drink. Helping in the kitchen, Sharon learned to cook from an early age, and developed a strong sense of pride in her Syrian heritage. In this stunning collection, Sharon shares more than 100 classic and contemporary recipes, including black hummus, pumpkin kibbeh, almond-crusted scallops, sour cherry kebab balls, fig sorbet, and semolina fudge. Let Sharon's natural warmth entice you to gather your favorite people around you and enjoy a taste of Syria.