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‘Over 100 different types of food available in Abu Dhabi’

Cuisine from diverse cultures are offered in the absence of local dishes by specialised eateries.

Ayman Moris, Marketing Director of Al Dhafra Restaurants Company, said UAE dishes are available but in small number of eateries and are served to tourists and as part of effort to preserve heritage.

“The UAE cuisine is rich and diverse starting from different kinds of breads like khamer, giyab and mahali to seafood, including shark which is appealing to the newly-married men because of its high energy contents,'' he said.

He added that there are an array of dishes that many UAE nationals were not aware of like the tobouli shukhi (a mixture of rice and meat flavoured with sauce) which was discovered by one of the company's owners through his grandmother.

Ayman indicated that most nationals prefer fresh slaughtered animals in addition to the rich delicacy local staple dishes hareis and sareed. “These dishes, part of an instinct food culture, are healthy and contain high nutritional ingredients. They are common among elder locals but young generations eat these dishes as an attempt of change or trial,'' he explained.

As for the local desserts, he listed khabisa, asseda (porridge), bisbes, hanfroush and balabiet (noodles) and sajo.

He noted that fast progress in the UAE had led to extinction of many dishes from the local menu. Influence of residents who hail from diverse cultures should not discounted.

“The Indian cuisine has far substantial impact on the UAE food culture and the biryani and curry are the living examples,'' he added.

The Lebanese kitchen is occupying a leading position in terms of the foreign cuisines in the UAE, providing a basket of grilled choices, salad and appetisers. Affected by the modern life under the remarkable progress, the UAE national prefers to take diverse range of dishes from fast food to oriental and Chinese cuisine.

On the clientele, he said nationals take the lead followed by tourists, especially Germans and Americans who prefer local dishes but seafood is their favourite. According to him, most local dishes are prepared by Arab chefs but there are also 30 chefs from India and Pakistan.

He unveiled the company's intention to launch a chain of restaurants serving local food.

Shireen Yusouf, a national, said local menu has many types of dishes but you need long time to prepare which is not possible under the fast rhythm of modern life today. ''Since the woman entered the labour market and girl attended school, it is almost impossible to serve local dishes like hareis. The local dishes are now served on national, traditional and religious festivals,'' she added.

She admitted that the UAE society had been tremendously influenced by the food habits of the resident communities especially those from India and Lebanon.

Nada Hashem said that time had changed and “it is difficult for the working woman to prepare local dishes given the other home and family duties,” she noted.

''The sweeping change in the lifestyle of the UAE woman which has become a minister today has, of course, brought other transformations in the food culture of the UAE family,'' she observed.

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