>ras al-hanout, the rose-perfumed spice

A flowery tale (told) more sweetly than our rhyme,
my rose-flavored loukoum dusted with thyme...

Essence of roses comes to us in many ways, not just in the form of sweet tyranny called Turkish delights; 

Rose-petal jam made from damask rose petals
Rose honey made from rosebuds
Rose vinegar
Rose syrup
Candied rose petals
Rosolio, a rose liqueur
 
Restaurants have fallen in love with ras al-hanout, a spice powder mix of cloves, cinnamon, black pepper and rosebuds.

>Pistachio crusted sea bass over braised Swiss chard and garbanzos with ras al hanout - Medjool Restaurant, San Francisco, CA

>Celery root soup with cauliflower, olio nuovo and ras al hanout - Campton Place, San Francisco, CA

>Chicken satay with ras al hanout sauce - Loft, New York, NY

>Rack of lamb "tagine" with winter vegetables Parisienne and a butternut squash, ginger, ras al hanout, saffron sauce - Bistro 561, Pasadena, CA


The sweetest, sweetest tyranny...