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Saudi Arabian born Amina El Shafei, who shot to fame on last season’s Masterchef Australia cookery reality show, is set to tantalise taste buds at Abu Dhabi’s premier 16-day epicurean festival, Gourmet Abu Dhabi 2014.
In the United Arab Emirates’ capital to announce her participation in Gourmet Abu Dhabi, running 4-19th February 2014 across many of the emirate’s leading establishments, the 29-year-old star met with famed Emirati cooking personality, Chef KhaloodAtiq, to swap tips, share recipes and learn more about local cuisine at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara.
And the hugely likable El Shafei, who is of Egyptian-Korean parentage and lives in New South Wales, Australia, has become a huge hit in her adopted home, drawing on her intriguing heritage to develop stunning food dishes with a distinctively Middle Eastern flair - something she hopes to develop whilst in the emirate.
“I think Middle Eastern cuisine is so diverse, it spans so many flavours and styles. So to see Emirati food up close, given it is such a niche speciality, is something I will definitely take away with me. The use of spices is particularly interesting, I tend to go very heavy on my spice use so to see how Chef Khulood blends these spices into her food, is very interesting,” said El Shafei, who is on her way to London for the Halal Food Festival, which is sponsored by Gourmet Abu Dhabi organiser, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).
Chef Khulood, the UAE’s first female celebrity chef, also presented El Shafei with a copy of her latest book, ‘Sarareed’, and treated her to local speciality, Chicken Machbous, which uses rice, spices and meat to create a well flavoured Emirati favourite.
And the Australianpersonality, who has her own cook book coming out next year, said that meeting other chefs and being able to exchange ideas and see how other cultures cook, is a huge influence on any budding chef.
“I represent the home cooks out there, so working alongside professional chefs gives me a chance to get inspired and take what they’re doing so I can fold it into my dishes. I think that’s why events like Gourmet Abu Dhabi are so important; it brings these professional chefs into contact with us home cooks, and opens up our minds to use ingredients we perhaps wouldn’t have usually. It also helps bring the magic of cooking to audiences which is a great thing,” added El Shafei, whose popularity in Australia has spiked an awareness of Middle Eastern cuisine and culture in the country.
El Shafei - who also took time out to visit the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, voted one of the world’s top attractions by TripAdvisor - now follows in the footsteps of Masterchef Australia judge, George Calombaris, who was in the emirate for Gourmet Abu Dhabi2012, and has promised to whip up treats for the event that would make her mentor proud.
“Hey George, I’m only two years behind you now,” joked El Shafei. “George is a very meticulous chef, all credit to him, he takes it to a whole new level. He was a wonderful mentor so to be taking part in Gourmet Abu Dhabi like him is a big honour. I’ll make him proud with my dishes.”
El Shafei is the first big name signed up to Abu Dhabi’s ‘lifestyle gastronomic extravaganza’,which will feature a star-studded cast of Michelin-star chefs and special guests, master classes, industry insights from hospitality experts, and gourmet dinners hosted by a range of the UAE capital’s top hotels.
TCA Abu Dhabi will also be out in force at this week’s Halal Food Festival in London’s ExCeL in a bid to position the emirate as a hotspot for halal holidays.
Irish cooking queen Rachel Allen, who was enthused by the emirate following her appearance earlier this year at Gourmet Abu Dhabi, is helping out with an Emirati dish appearing on her scheduled live cooking demonstration.
Rachel embraced Arabian cooking styles during her February visit to Abu Dhabi when she undertook an impromptu cooking class – this time as the student – at the Arabian Nights Village desert retreat. The popular TV personality received a one-to-one lesson in making ’Saj’ which can be cooked with a variety of fillings, from the resident village baker, Azra.
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