Pomegranate Soup

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Beneath the holy mountain Croagh Patrick in County Mayo lies the small village of Ballinacroagh, where the Aminpour sisters seek refuge after fleeing Iran seven years ago. Marjan, along with her younger sisters Bahar and Layla, hopes to find a home in this picturesque setting filled with “crazed sheep and dizzying roads.” They open the Babylon Cafe in an old pastry shop, introducing the town to the enticing aromas of cardamom, cinnamon, and saffron, a stark contrast to the local fare of boiled cabbage and Guinness. This venture provokes the ire of Thomas McGuire, the town’s self-appointed king, who has long coveted the shop. However, the sisters’ culinary delights quickly win over the townsfolk, leading to a surge in business. Marjan delights in the popularity of her dishes, while her sisters experience personal growth—Layla discovers first love, and Bahar becomes less anxious. They find allies in the community, including Father Fergal Mahoney, widow Estelle Delmonico, and hairdresser Fiona Athey, who support them against the resistance from more traditional villagers. Yet, their newfound happiness is threatened when their past in revolution-era Iran resurfaces, intertwining their old lives with the present.