Competition for woven embroidery on Tuesday, Wednesday
Dubai, July 26, 2004 - Amna Essa Al Shirawi, a UAE national, won the Heritage Surprises Traditional Cooking Competition for the second day running yesterday at the Bin Sougat Centre in Rashidiya. Her winning aseeda, a famous traditional UAE dessert, took the top honours only a day after her harees - an equally popular meat side dish - won on the first day of the competition.
The Traditional Cooking Competition, organised by the Dubai Summer Surprises Office, also awarded second place to Fatima Hassan Abdullah, and third place to Moza Saeed Al Sharhan. Maitha Ghobash, supervisor of the competition, said that the taste, quality and presentation of Mrs. Al Shirawi's dish far outstripped the other competitors.
"She presented the dish in a very special way, and the judges agreed that it was very well-prepared," said Ghobash. "The second and third-prize winners also presented good dishes but Amna is especially skilled."
Mrs. Al Shirawi, who took part in traditional cooking competitions in previous years without any success, was very surprised by her double win. "I didn't expect to win on the first day, and especially not on both days," she said. "This year luck is on my side and I was able to follow all the rules the judging committee had laid out for us."
Mrs. Al Shirawi received a Dh. 2,000 voucher from the Bin Sougat Centre as her prize; second and third place winners received Dh. 1,000 and Dh. 500 vouchers respectively. All other participants received token prizes from the mall.
Sponsored by and held at the Bin Sougat Centre in Rashidiya, the Traditional Cooking Competition will be held until Wednesday, with each day focusing on a different main dish or traditional dessert. On Monday, the focus was 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).
Ghobash also announced that there will be another competition for ladies on Tuesday on Wednesday at the Bin Sougat Centre. Ladies will be asked to create the longest talee (traditional embroidery woven from expensive gold, silver and other precious threads) on site. First and second place winners will receive Dhs. 1,000 and Dh. 500 from the Bin Sougat Centre, and other participants will receive Dh. 200 vouchers from the mall.
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 by Dubai Customs from July 22-28, 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
