E-Paper
Sign In
Romana Husain: The changing culinary map of the UAE
For the chef, it is not about fame but rather a connection with her audience
- PUBLISHED: Mon 23 Mar 2026, 12:21 PM
- By:
- Ghazala Tikki Zaman and Tabassum Vally
Romana is a young, dynamic and extremely creative pastry chef who has a flair for teaching culinary skills. Cooking comes very easily to her and flavours, palettes and balance are second nature to her.
Romana realised her calling in the culinary world when she baked a cake for her three-year-old son. Little did she know that this will be a turning point in her career.
Recommended For You
“Equipped with a formal training and degree I started catering deserts and celebration cakes for parties in Cairo and then later on in Dubai when I moved here in 2019. This is where I really began to grow as a pastry chef and I established a reputation in the local market.”
When approached by HUM TV, to conduct a programme for the Masala TV, Romana felt this was a perfect platform to teach and impart what she had learnt as a chef.
“I was a little nervous, which actually surprised me, but soon I found that the cameras and lights disappeared and it was just me, my kitchen and the viewers.” For Romana it is not about fame but rather a connection with her audience. Masala TV and the Hum Network played an important role in shaping Romana’s journey as a chef and as a presenter. The leadership at Hum created space for women and authentic Pakistani voices were raised at their platforms.
“Being a pastry chef as compared to becoming a regular chef was bit of a challenge. It was intricate work that required patience and meticulous hours. However, my creative nature has allowed me to express my creativity through food.”
In her opinion previously chefs used to be invisible mostly behind the scenes, but now they are brands. TV, social media and streaming platforms have suddenly made chefs into household names. There was a time when everything was quick mixes and people who spent time in kitchen were judged as old school and traditional. This perception has changed.
Preparing meals with fresh, seasonal ingredients has become a source of comfort and therapeutic. With more emphasis on health and simple food made right Romana is of the opinion that tiny portions and over decorated plates, are soon becoming a thing of the past.
Moving forward Romana would like to see more women representation in the culinary field especially from Pakistan. Parents should not feel fearful sending their daughters to learn the culinary arts and they should support them if this the path their daughters choose.
Romana with all her expertise and experience in the culinary world is soon launching her own cookbook, sharing125 recipes that she has “tweaked and perfected “over her 18 yearlong careers in the culinary world.
“I hope my book will help people see that cooking delicious food can be easy, it can also be useful to anyone wanting fool proof recipes to start a business. “
Romana hopes that her book will be well received amongst the cooking enthusiasts in the UAE and beyond its borders.