A Touch of Spice 2006

As Professor Fanis Iakovides reflects on his enchanting childhood in Istanbul, the sense of nostalgia is vivid. His grandfather, Vassilis, was not just the owner of a spice-centric general store; he was a sage and culinary guide who deeply influenced Fanis’ love for knowledge. Vassilis’ unconventional teaching techniques, which often intertwined different subjects, left an everlasting imprint on his young mind. Who could forget his memorable lessons, wherein he creatively replaced the planets with spices? He would poignantly explain that the “pungent aroma of cinnamon illustrates the dual essence of Venus,” stating: > “like all women, cinnamon is both bitter and sweet.” It was amid these formative years that Fanis first tasted the thrill of young love on the upper floor of his grandfather’s shop, captivated by the lovely Saime.

Yet, the picturesque backdrop of Istanbul’s Greek community began to shatter in 1955 with the Pogrom, heralding a series of government-led riots and deportations that drastically reduced the ethnic Greek population from 135,000 to merely 7,000 by 1978. The profound impacts of these tragic events hit Fanis’ family hard, culminating in their forced deportation in 1964 following the Ankara government’s betrayal of the 1930 Greco-Turkish Ankara Convention. This historic pact had once safeguarded the rights of Greek citizens born and raised in Istanbul. While most of Fanis’ family was deported to Greece, his grandfather Vassilis remained behind, unable to leave due to his lack of dual citizenship.

Adaptation to life in Greece was no easy feat for Fanis, who found comfort in cooking—a heartfelt reminder of his Turkish roots. His mother, on the other hand, was increasingly concerned about his intense focus on cuisine, suspecting he might be struggling with his mental health or sexuality. As he transitioned into adulthood, Fanis kept his culinary passion alive, imparting his insights on Politiki Cuisine to eager learners.

As decades flowed by like grains of sand drifting down the Bosphorus River, the long-anticipated visits from Grandfather Vassilis to Athens remained disappointingly unfulfilled, postponed due to his deteriorating condition. In a moment of quiet desperation, Fanis decided to return to Istanbul after a long 30-year hiatus, drawn back by the urgency of his grandfather’s fragile health. Upon his return, he encounters Saime, the stunning Turkish beauty who had once captured his heart, now married to a pragmatic Turkish military physician.

As they walk down memory lane, reflecting on their lives and the shifting political landscape that altered their realm, Fanis faces an unsettling truth — despite his grandfather’s urging, he has neglected to fill his life with the joy and fervor that makes existence worthwhile. Fanis and Saime become a poignant metaphor for their respective worlds: with Saime representing the timeless charm of Istanbul, while Fanis embodies modern Greece yet remains romantically attached to the nostalgic beauty of Constantinople; her husband stands for a new and methodical Turkey, always prioritizing practical matters.

In this bittersweet reunion, Fanis confronts the chasm between his grandfather’s profound wisdom and his own torpid life, grappling with the repercussions of living without excitement or purpose. As the passage of time unveils Istanbul’s stunning magnificence, Fanis must harmonize his yearning for the past with the responsibilities of today, embarking on a transformative journey of self-discovery that promises to redefine his life’s path.