Food culture in the UAE

Asian and North African communities are renowned for community living and dining. Meals are often taken in large groups sitting around a table or on the floor, sometimes shared from one large plate or two. It speaks a lot about the people and their large-heartedness and kinship.

Since the formation of the UAE in 1971 and the exploration of oil, its visionary and ambitious leaders have ensured that its people had an infrastructure and lifestyle that is world-class. The Bedouin lifestyle of Emirati forefathers has today seamlessly blended with the continental appetite for good life and good food. The modern diet of the Emirati people is cosmopolitan, with the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in particular having a cosmopolitan crowd and culture.

For Arabs, gathering around the dining table is an occasion for celebration and fellowship. Food is a means for strengthening family bonds. In winter in the UAE, especially in Dubai and Sharjah, Arab women and children can be seen picnicking in parks and corniche lawns, sharing tea or bread while men chat over a cup of coffee at signature cafes. The coffee club culture is there in all seasons with malls hosting numerous internationally acclaimed coffee shops. Barbecues are also common among those who love an outdoorsy life.

Traditional cuisine: Emirati cuisine is a delectable mix of Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine; being much milder than south Asian cuisine, it is easy on the palate and the tummy. The Arabic cuisine consists heavily of dry breads like kuboos and pita, and fish and meat like mutton and beef, often grilled. Fish like hammour is the local popular for grilling but imported ones like the Norwegian salmon is also a hot favorite. Frying does not seem a preferred option except while preparing snacks like falafel (which reminds one of the Indian parippuvada) and luqaimat (which looks like the desi gulab jamun though the texture and ingredients are different).

When one thinks of Arabic food, the first images are of the strong Arabic coffee and dates. The Arabica beans is lightly roasted and ground with cardamom and saffron to brew that perfect small cup of coffee in an ibrik/ coffee pot. Dates offer an immense variety -- Saudi Arabian, Palestinian, Iranian etc. since date palms are a familiar sight in the entire Arabian peninsula and North African (MENA) region. Its prime importance in Arabic life can be gauged from the fact that it is your breaking-the-fast prescription along with water during the Ramadan season.

Harees is a one-pot dish made from wheat and meat and popular during special occasions like Ramadan and Eid.

Shawarma is synonymous with Arab food but is actually not a traditional Emirati offering. Its popularity stems from the fact that it is a quick and tasty option, and is your food on the go. This could easily pass off as the UAE's favourite food. Here again, the taste and filling can vary depending on where you are -- a Lebanese, Iraqi, Syrian or Kerala restaurant. Combine it with a plate of falafel fritters for as low as AED 1 a plate, and your supper is truly filling.

The tabbouleh is a nutritional salad made of chopped parsley, tomatoes, and bulgur wheat. Vegetarian visitors to the UAE, keen on trying local dishes, can bank on this one dish to keep themselves afloat. Then there is hummus, a delectable dip, and fattoush, a bread salad made using fried pita bread.

The mandi biriyani may not be everyone's favourite but it is value for money. It probably needs an acquired taste, but going by the number of mandi restaurants in the emirates it must be very popular.

An exotic dish that is reserved for special occasions is the stuffed camel, which has a world record as the largest dish in the world.

But then, there is option for everyone. Vegetarian, vegan, non-vegetarian. The UAE especially Dubai keeps everyone happy with a surfeit of choices. Indian restaurants, in particular Kerala ones, are dime a dozen. Of course, a customer may not visit a restaurant a second time unless the food and service is good. One can be assured of quality and hygiene because the laws are strict.

Fast Food: The well-heeled and worldly wise Emirati doesn't shy away from trying the cuisine of other nations. One can see them in an Indian Nawabi restaurant like Gazebo or a Japanese joint like Manga Sushi. The mall food courts attract people from all walks of life with somewhat longer queues in front of McDonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC. The junk food bug has bitten the Emirati and the expat alike, and no amount of awareness spreading through newspapers and school classrooms is cutting the modern man's fascination for a cheesy burger or pizza or a bucket of chicken popcorn/drumstick.

Malls also provide the casual dining experience. A PF Chang or a Bosporus may be packed on weekends but is a break from the monotony of the fast food culture.

Friday Brunch: Nothing celebrates the hard-earned holiday on Friday as the Friday brunch on offer at the big/luxury hotels. Wake up late on Friday (or Saturday for those lucky to have a two-day weekend) and head to your favourite restaurant for a royal meal. Brunches come for as low as AED 50 and as high as AED 600 or thereabouts.

Food Fests: The country is in a festival mood throughout the year, be it shopping, sports or food. The Liwa Dates festival in the western region of Abu Dhabi is a celebration of the desert fruit in July every year. There is a competition for the best variety of dates to enthuse farmers. Then there is the Abu Dhabi Food Festival in December and the Dubai Food Festival in February-March offering mouth-watering possibilities for food buffs.

All in all, the UAE is a foodie paradise. Life never ceases to be exciting here.

* the unedited version of a post I wrote for http://blog.mysearchuae.com/