Greenville Magazine - April 2008 - (Page 71) sauce that we had enjoyed on a previous visit. “Iranian cooking is heir to no less than two and a half thousand years of saffron- and rosewater-scented history,” writes Sarah Kagan in her guide to Persian cuisine. These flavors converge in a unique dessert of pistachio saffron ice cream with its floral, spicy, mildly nutty combination – not excessively sweet or creamy and with a slight spongy texture, a perfect light finish. Other sweets are a moderately dense chocolate cake and a spongecake swirl with cream filling. Beverages come from a small full bar, including flavored martinis with a rosy, refreshing pomegranate version at the top of the list. A few wines come from the Mediterranean region; we were pleased with reasonably priced bottles of an Italian pinot grigio with more substance than some we’ve tasted but not too overpowering for our appetizers as well as a heartier French red that complemented our main dishes. The beverage de resistance at Pomegranate is non-alcoholic: their Persian tea blend of five loose teas served on a pewter tray made by the owner’s sister in Iran comes in glass cups to showcase the bronze color and is accompanied by sugar cubes to place in the mouth first so the warm, fragrant liquid merges with sweetness. Owner Ali Saifi, born in Iran and educated in the United States, often circulates among guests. Servers explain the menu and return regularly to refill glasses and bread baskets as needed. Timing is right for this restaurant that opened in November 2007, for pomegranate is among the culinary trends of the moment, promoted in supermarkets and magazines and featured in fancy bar beverages. Middle Eastern cuisines have recognized the health and flavor benefits of this fruit for centuries, and Pomegranate brings the distinctive flavors of this ancient culture to Main Street. n POMEGRANATE ON MAiN 618 S. Main Street Greenville 864-241-3012 http://pomegranateonmain.com Mon-Fri 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5:30-10 p.m. Sat 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. april 2008 | Greenville MaGazine 71 http://patrawlinsphotography.com http://patrawlinsphotography.com http://patrawlinsphotography.com http://pomegranateonmain.com
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