Visitors savouring culinary treats at the MIA Café.
DOHA: Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture yesterday welcomed the latest addition to its year-long cultural exchange programme; a culinary experience consisting of Camel cottage pie and Eton Mess — two traditional British dishes with an Arabic twist.
These culinary treats have been created for the MIA Café by Romain Meder, Executive Chef of MIA Restaurants.
“We wanted to ensure we capture the essence of traditional British food, being able to add an Arabic twist to the dishes. By using the finest locally sourced ingredients we have created the Camel cottage pie and Eton Mess, representing Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture from a culinary angle,” said Romain Meder.
The Camel cottage pie, features braised camel meat, aromatic garnish, mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese. Adding Arabic spices and camel meat, a regional delicacy, creates a tasteful blend bridging the two national cuisines.
If museum-goers are in for a sweet treat, the traditional English dessert ‘Eton Mess’, named after Eton College in Windsor, will be the perfect choice. The dessert consists of a mixture, or mess, of fresh strawberries, meringue and cream, flavoured with thinly sliced local fresh mint.
“Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture has so far offered a wide range of events and activities highlighting the relationship between Qatar and the UK — mostly through artistic and educational exchange. What we wanted to do with this menu is let people in Qatar experience the cultural relationship through a shared passion. By taking traditional British recipes and enhancing them with local ingredients, we are bringing the spirit of the Year of Culture to the table,” said Aisha Ghanem Al Attiya, Qatar UK 2013.
The Peninsula
