The Cultural Salon | The Mystical Side of Food

- Wednesday 20 May, 2020 11:00PM

The Cultural Salon engages the wider local community in cultural discussions and debates related to a wide range of topics relevant to the UAE and the region. Its aim is to bridge the existing gap between various artistic activities, cultural practices and disciplines by bringing together people from various cultural circles. 

In its fourth edition, The Mystical Side of Food bands together virtually food ethnographers, chefs and writers who will reflect on the links between spirituality, community and food. They will discuss ways in which culinary traditions and recipes feed not only the body, but the mind and the collectivity of the community. Borrowing lessons from traditional recipes, the discussion will conclude with reimagining how to preserve our culinary cultures and observe Ramadan during our current unprecedented times. 

The discussion will be led by the Head of 1971 Design Space Fatma Al Mahmoud.

Guest Speakers: Aisha Al Muhairi, Hanan Worrel, Chef Khaled Al Saadi and Mufaddal Husein.

Special Thanks to Nahla Al Tabbaa.

The Cultural Salon is organized by 1971 – Design Space in collaboration with Fikra and is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development. To join kindly email us on rsvp@1971design.ae

Aisha Al Muhairi

Aisha Al Muhairi is an Emirati graphic designer with a BA in Visual Communication from the American University of Sharjah. Driven by her passion for both culinary arts and culture throughout her upbringing, AlMuhairi has dedicated her ongoing project ‘Igrbu’ as a mean to preserve, promote and celebrate the Emirati Food Culture. Her project ‘Igrbu’ has been selected as the 2020 winner of the Total Design Commission Award by ADMAF and has also won in the competition of the 100 Best Arab Posters in 2019.

Hanan Sayed Worrell

Hanan Sayed Worrell is an international recipe hunter. As a Lebanese-Egyptian-American, she grew up in Kuwait and was educated in the United States, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering at Stanford University. A global nomad herself, Hanan has lived on four continents and travelled extensively, allowing her to move adeptly between cultures and cuisines. As a careful and affectionate observer of Abu Dhabi for a quarter of a century, she is uniquely qualified to guide the reader on a culinary pilgrimage by way of its streets, homes, and flavours. Through her professional career, Hanan has worked on many diverse initiatives in the realms of aviation, energy, wildlife, environment, education, culture, and the arts. She has a deep appreciation for the role of culture and architecture and how they shape a city. The connections she has made professionally and in her personal life form the rich tapestry of friendships presented in Table Tales, The Global Nomad Cuisine of Abu Dhabi.

Khaled Al Saadi

At 29 years old, Emirati chef Khaled Al Saadi has worked at some of the top international resturants such as Nobu, Hakkasan, Ossiano and Bread Street Kitchen by Gordon Ramsey. He has a background in fine dining from the Atlantis to the Palm. Chef Khaled has done collaborations with top international chefs, infusing and elevating Emirati cuisine to fine dining. He recently opened up his own café/ restaurant in Abu Dhabi called  “Fa’e”.

Mufaddal Husein

Mufaddal Husein is an Eating Designer interested in the social interactions around dining, the role of rituals in the ways we eat and exploring new ways to consume culture through food. He currently develops experiences for Frying Pan Adventures, Dubai’s first Food Tour company, that is actively engaged in showcasing the hidden foods of Dubai and the stories behind them on walking tours through the neighbourhoods and communities of the city.