Dubai, July 25, 2004 - Three ladies went home Dhs. 3,500 richer and the audience went home with a greater appreciation of the UAE's traditional food on Saturday night, as the first day of the Traditional Cooking Competition organised by the Dubai Summer Surprises office came to an end.

Sponsored by and held at the Bin Sougat Centre in Rashidiya, the Traditional Cooking Competition will be held over five days until Wednesday, with each day focusing on a different main dish or traditional dessert. The focus of the first day was harees, a paste-like delicacy of beaten meat and wheat that takes considerable time to prepare. 

Maitha Ghobash, supervisor of the competition, said that more than 20 women from around the GCC entered Saturday's competition and displayed a lot of creativity and flair in presenting their dishes.

A five-member judging panel from the Dubai Summer Surprises Office critiqued all the entries for their taste, presentation, decoration style and quality of the ingredients. Three winners were chosen from the group - in first place, Amna Al Shirawi, who received a Dhs. 2,000 voucher from Bin Sougat Centre; in second place, Fatehia Hassan, who received a Dh. 1,000 voucher from Bin Sougat Centre; and in third place, Salma Saeed Al Amri, who won a Dh. 500 voucher from Bin Sougat Centre. All other participants received token prizes from the mall.

Hamad bin Sougat, owner of the Bin Sougat Centre; Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Executive Officer of DSS and other DSS officials presented the awards on a stage built for the contest.

"We had very good attendance on the first night, and we are sure this will only increase as the week progresses," Ghobash said. "Everyone was eager to know the results, not only the competitors but the audience members. After the judging, the dishes were distributed to all members of the public who wished to try some."

Amna Al Shirawi, first-place winner, had participated in the traditional cooking competition last year and has long been recognised as a skilled cook. Fatehia Hassan, the second-place winner, said her entry had been prepared by her mother, but she was encouraged by the success and hopes to follow in her mother's footsteps. Her serving platter, elaborately decorated with a mini-camel figurine, woven palm fronds and replicas of palm trees, received high praise from the judges.

Third-place winner Salma Saeed Al Amri, who also won in last year's traditional cooking competition, credited her mother for teaching her how to cook, and said she was very pleased to see so many people of different cultures taking an interest in the competition. She also said she was thankful to the DSS organisers for giving her an opportunity to show her skill.

The competition continued last night (Sunday) with a focus on Aseeda (a sweet dish made from semolina, saffron and sugar). On Monday, the focus will be Balaleet (another dessert made with vermicelli, sugar, saffron and eggs); Tuesday's focus is Khabees (a dessert made with semolina, flour, saffron and sugar) and Wednesday's focus is Yareesh (a main course made from wheat, vegetables, spices and fish or chicken).

The deadline for registration will be one day before every individual competition.

To register, please call Ahlan Dubai on 600545555 or visit the DSS Office on the second floor of the Department of Economic Development to collect registration forms.

Dubai Summer Surprises 2004 is currently in the Heritage Surprises week organised by Dubai Customs from July 22-28, followed by Adventure Surprises by Dubai Police from July 29-August 4, Knowledge Surprises by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry from August 5-11, Back-2-School Surprises by the Department of Economic Development from August 12-18 and ends with the Colour Surprises by the Department of Health and Medical Sciences from August 19-27, 2004.

-Ends-

For further information, please contact
Hessah Sultan Aurbaya,
Corporate Communication Coordinator,
Dubai Summer Surprises
Tel: +971-4-202 0510;
Fax: +971-4-222 1110
Email: haurbaya@mydsf.gov.ae

© Press Release 2004