Dubai: Food can be a great mood enhancer.
Be it a roadside fast food fare or something straight out of grandma’s recipe book or even a proper five course fine dining experience, food is always linked to your emotions.
More than presentation, it is the authentic taste, the fresh ingredients and the emotional context that has the power to tantalise your tongue and your olfactory cells making the meal unforgettable.
Gulf News asked people about their most memorable meal of the year and they came up with surprisingly varied accounts that go to prove that good food, like good music, good film and a good painting is always about the way we respond emotionally to it.
Shahnaz Pakravan, British journalist of Iranian orgin: “This was a Mediterranean sea food with fennel stew that my 21-year old daughter Ayesha cooked for us at our home in France, this July. When one finds one’s own child who one has reared suddenly turn so creative and passionate about food, it is special. Ayesha who has just graduated in Media and Journalism suddenly discovered her passion of cooking and she plans to open her cooking school for children soon. I love stews and apart from the distinct taste it was really a spirit lifter. We managed to get this huge French bread to accompany it and the experience really was unforgettable. What’s more, she posted the picture of the stew with its recipe on Instagram and we just learnt that the famous Chef Yotam OttoLenghi, tried it out and really loved it. So this stew has become special in so many ways!”
Gaurav Bhatnagar, Indian: I had the most amazing Doner Kebab of all the places in Interlaken Switzerland while on a holiday with my wife Kritee, earlier this year. This was the most perfect kebab – huge in size and accompanied with a lot of vegetables in a bun- it was so spicy and caught us by surprise as we were not expecting something quite like it in Europe.
The mood was really romantic, it was raining and my wife and I were standing just outside a famous hotel where one of the most popular romantic movies of Bollywood ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya le jayenge (the bride will be taken by the large hearted lover), was shot. Here we were sharing one umbrella and one kebab and walking in the rain. The kebab was spicy, warm and well done, it was so delectable and even after we had walked about 3km, the two of us could not finish it. It was some of the most beautiful moments I shared with my wife and the taste of the sizzling kebab on a cold rainy day is simply unforgettable.”
Susan Simmons Whistler, American: “This was a Cajun dinner I had at a new restaurant that opened in Dubai this year. The restauarant had an authentic Cajun chef. Although I belong to New York and have lived in Manhattan for more than two decades, I had never visited New Orleans and tasting this authentic cuisine from New Orleans, triggered by biggest fantasies about the place. There were no disappointments as the dishes had piquant flavour – the dishes were really spicy and had a great flavour and there was a hot sauce accompanying the food. I found the Cajun grits similar to found the cooking very evocative and very exotic and a grand affair that I am not likely to forget in a hurry?”
Dr Sergio Rommel, Fillipino: “This was in the summers earlier this year when I had gone to France to present a paper. We walked into this really ordinary looking place in the heart of Paris and my colleague ordered aregular spaghetti pasta with Arabiatta sauce. I did a copycat order but was blown away by the delectable flavour in such a simple dish. I just cannot explain how they packed so much taste in such a simple dish, it was outstanding — the ingredients were so fresh, the sauce they made themselves and the mozzarella cheese too was made at site. They told me it was their special trade secret that heightened the flavour. The pasta was so good that I went in for a second helping and I am certain the next time I visit Paris I will go in for a repeat order!”
Alexander Michaels, French: “I have recently turned vegetarian and had the most delectable vegan meal at a newly opened vegetarian café called Comptoir which has opened on Jumeirah Beach road by two vegan French ladies. I was amazed by the variety and range of vegan food on offer. I had a coconut and cauliflower soup, a tomato quiche and the no guilt burger made out of vegetables. The balance and harmony with the selected ingredients was superb and the food was simply delicious.”
Marina Guirgis, Egyptian: “This was a meal I had in Switzerland recently. The special thing was I was travelling on my own for the first time and feeling really independent and exhilarated. I met about five or six of my acquaintances and we all went for lunch at Radisson. The meal was a special steak made of Wagyu beef with cream sauce, mushroom and vegetables. It was the tastiest steak I have ever had. It was well done and the ingredients were so fresh that we all felt very light after the meal.”
