Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic
To match feature SYRIA-ALEPPO/CUISINE
A chef prepares quince kibbeh, an Aleppine delicacy, at the Mirage hotel kitchen in Aleppo October 21, 2007. With silk road fame and cosmopolitan prosperity, today's Syrian city of Aleppo was the culinary capital of the Middle East before cultural and commercial decline took its toll. Syria is opening up its economy in the last few years after decades of nationalisation and state control and reviving interest in the city's cuisine. Picture taken October 21, 2007. To match feature SYRIA-ALEPPO/CUISINE REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA)