When Maryam Jillani was growing up in Islamabad, the last day of Ramadan was about more than breaking a month-long fast with extended family.
A joyous occasion, the Eid Al-Fitr holiday also was marked with visits to the market to get new bangles, wearing her best new clothes and getting hennaed. Not to mention the little envelopes with cash gifts from the adults.
“But, of course, food,” said Jillani, a food writer and author of the new cookbook “Pakistan.” “Food is a big part of Eid.”
At the center of her grandmother Kulsoom’s table was always mutton pulao, a delicately spiced rice dish in which the broth that results from cooking bone-in meat is then used to cook the rice. Her uncle would make mutton karahi, diced meat simmered in tomato sauce spiked with ginger and chilies.
Cutlets, kebabs, lentil fritters and more rounded out the meal, while dollops of pungent garlic chutney and a cooling chutney with cilantro and mint cut through all the meat. For dessert were bowls of chopped fruit and seviyan, or semolina vermicelli noodles that are fried then simmered in cardamom-spiced milk.
The vegetable sides were the one thing that changed. Since Ramadan follows the lunar Islamic calendar, it can fall any time of year.
These dishes, and many of the associated memories, make it into Jillani’s book, but she would be the first to acknowledge they represent just a sliver of the nation’s varied cuisine.
Her father, who worked in international development, used to take the family to different parts of the country. Later, she did her own development fieldwork in education across rural Pakistan.
Along the way, she found striking differences between the tangier, punchier flavors in the east, toward India and China, and the milder but still flavorful cuisine in the west, toward Afghanistan.
“I knew our cuisine was a lot more than what we were finding on the Internet,” she said.
After moving to Washington, D.C. as a graduate student, she started the blog Pakistan Eats in 2008 to highlight dishes that were lesser known to Western cooks. Research on the book began 15 years later, and she visited 40 kitchens in homes across Pakistan.
“Even though I hadn’t lived in Pakistan for over 10 years, each kitchen felt like home,” she writes in the book’s introduction.
She includes what she calls “superstars” of the cuisine, such as chicken karahi, one of the first dishes Pakistanis learn to make when overseas to get a taste of home. The meat is seared in a karahi (skillet) and then braised in a tomato sauce spiced with cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic and chilies before a dollop of yogurt is stirred into the pot.
Other recipes reflect the diverse nature of Pakistan’s migrant communities, such as kabuli pulao, an Afghan rice dish made with beef, garam masala, chilies, sweetened carrots and raisins.
“The idea behind the cookbook is to try to play my small part in carving out a space for Pakistani food on the global culinary table,” she said.
And of course, honoring her grandmother’s mutton pulao.
Jillani is hosting Eid this year at her home, now in Manila, Philippines, and she plans to make it, as well as an Afghan-style eggplant, shami kebabs, and the cilantro and mint chutney.
“If I’m feeling especially ambitious that day, I might make a second mutton dish,” she said. “I’ve been a bit homesick.”
As Ramadan ends, a new cookbook sheds light on Pakistan’s varied cuisine
https://arab.news/62re6
As Ramadan ends, a new cookbook sheds light on Pakistan’s varied cuisine
- Cutlets, kebabs, mutton karahi, diced meat simmered in tomato sauce spiked with ginger and chilies, and more round out the meal on the Eid Al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of Ramadan
- These dishes, and many of the associated ones, make it into Maryam Jillani’s book, but she would be the first to acknowledge they represent just a sliver of the nation’s varied cuisine
Focus on AI rise in creative industries at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI: Industry leaders gathered at the 7th Culture Summit Abu Dhabi on Monday to discuss the rise of artificial intelligence in creative industries — and what it means for the future.
Panelists at the event, held at Abu Dhabi’s Manarat Al-Saadiyat, included Riyad Joucka, founder and principal architect at the Middle East Architecture Network, a practice based in Dubai.
Others included Stephen King, senior lecturer at Middlesex University Dubai; Imad Mesdoua, director of government affairs for the Middle East and Africa at Spotify; and Dr. Patrick Noack, executive director at the Dubai Future Foundation.
The panel examined AI’s impact across multiple creative fields, exploring the opportunities AI presents as well as the challenges that arise when employing machine intelligence.
Joucka was keen to emphasize the importance of using AI as a tool to “extend human creativity,” rather than replace it.
“I see technology as an important tool to extend human creativity and knowledge, and not necessarily as a substitute for the human touch in design,” he said, adding that human-AI collaboration was the ideal creative journey from ideation to finished product.
Mesdoua echoed the importance of the human touch at Spotify, saying “there are two ingredients to the Spotify secret sauce, one is personalization … and the other one is discovery.
“Personalization is to a large extent driven by AI and technologies and algorithmic advances … it makes sure that your app fits you like a glove. The other ingredient to the secret sauce is what we call discoverability.
“And what that means is every now and then on your Spotify app, you will get a suggestion for a song or an artist or genre that you might not have typically listened to, and that’s largely the work, not solely, but largely the work of human editors.”
(AN Photo by Mohamed Fawzy)
That is “very important, particularly for diversity,” Mesdoua noted, adding “a big part of the work that the editors are doing to make sure that up-and-coming genres are being spotlighted and playlisted to global audiences in a unique way.
“So AI can reflect the user, but editors can help recommend new things to users.”
While human curators are key to promoting international music to global audiences, Mesdoua did note the importance of AI in the music industry, saying one of the most important positives is lowering the barriers to entry.
“If you think back to 70 years ago or 80 years ago, becoming a really established musician required you overcoming a ton of barriers and hurdles, particularly on the infrastructure side of things.
“You had to have an expensive studio at your disposal … now you can be all by yourself in your room with amazing AI software and amplify whatever creative spark you have in your mind and really go from ideation to production super-fast.”
It is something Noack was more cautious about, though, with the executive director at the Dubai Future Foundation saying “a barrier to entry is not necessarily a bad thing.”
“I think a lot of people come into space that is not necessarily their calling or (they do not have a) high level of skill and suddenly they know how to do something and they’re the expert in this space.”
A litmus test for good AI, he added, is “whether it can be switched off or rolled back.”
Taking into account differences between various creative fields, the panelists took a nuanced approach and discussed whether AI’s influence was similar across sectors.
There was one warning repeated across various creative fields — including architecture, marketing, education and music — panelists warned that practitioners need to “know when to stop and when to bring the human element back into creativity,” as per Joucka.
Running until April 29 and organized by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, the three-day summit includes policymakers, artists, scholars, and innovators.
The theme is “Culture for Humanity and Beyond,” focusing on the intersection of culture, technology and global governance.
Jordanian crown prince marks Princess Rajwa’s 31st birthday
- Royal family shares new official portrait of princess
DUBAI: Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah took to social media on Monday to send best wishes to his Saudi-born wife Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein on her 31st birthday.
“Happy birthday Rajwa! Grateful for the love, kindness, and warmth you bring into Iman’s life and mine,” he wrote, referring to their infant daughter Princess Iman.
Princess Rajwa gave birth to Iman — the first grandchild of King Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania — in August last year.
The Jordanian royal family shared a new official portrait of Princess Rajwa to celebrate her birthday.
She is seen wearing a jewel-toned ensemble featuring a cowl neck top and wide-leg pants from Los Angeles-based label Simkhai. She accessorized her look with the two letters lariat necklace from Joy Jewels, featuring the Arabic starting letters of the names of the crown prince and Princess Rajwa.
Jameela Jamil takes Australia by storm
DUBAI: Actress and body positivity activist Jameela Jamil ended her first speaking tour of Australia last night, during which she took her signature blend of radical honesty, humour and advocacy to packed theatres across the country.
The tour, titled “An Evening with Jameela Jamil,” opened in Sydney on April 26, continued in Brisbane on April 27, with the final stop in Melbourne last night.
After her Brisbane show, Jamil took to Instagram to thank her audience. “These are very new things I’m talking about, some of which I’m finding literally on stage during your Q and A section. It’s where I most learn how I really feel. Which is weird when in front of over a thousand people in PIN DROP silence.
“But I’ve unchained myself from a need to be performative or perfect. So I’m giving you my truest raw form in these talks. It’s the full me showing you my heart and not expecting you to embrace me. The fact that you do, has blown me away every night,” she wrote.
Jamil also took a moment to thank her moderator, April Helene-Horton, a body positivity activist.
“Big, huge thanks to @thebodzilla who stepped out of her comfort zone with me last night and did a smashing job. What a light of a human,” she wrote.
She also shared behind-the-scenes moments and audience interactions, giving fans a glimpse into the tour’s intimate atmosphere.
In an earlier interview with Marie Claire, she said: “I could not be more excited to have candid, bold and rebellious conversations. I have always felt drawn to the culture, humour and tenacity of Aussies, and look forward to some spirited discussions.”
Known for her breakout role as Tahani Al-Jamil in “The Good Place,” Jamil has since become a leading voice in global conversations about body image and mental health. Her Australian tour offered audiences an unfiltered look into her personal journey — from her struggles with eating disorders and public missteps to her evolution into a fearless advocate for authenticity.
Jamil's tour also highlights her initiative, Move for Your Mind, a reimagining of her earlier I Weigh movement. This project aims to dismantle toxic fitness culture and promote mental well-being, encouraging individuals to prioritize their mental health over societal expectations.
Role of culture in governance highlighted at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI: World leaders discussed how culture can transform global challenges at the seventh edition of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi.
The summit — which opened on Sunday in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s culture district at the Manarat Al-Saadiyat — is hosting a range of panels and discussions exploring the theme “Culture for Humanity and Beyond.”
One of the panels featured former world leaders discussing the role of culture within global governance.
Former Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova set the tone at the “Bridging the Cultural Gap: The Role of Culture in Shaping Global Governance” panel, saying that “400 years ago, there were 800 million people on the planet. Today, it’s 8 billion, divided into 195 states and 6,000 different community groups with their own languages and cultures.”
New Zealand’s former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley emphasized the importance of inclusive leadership, sharing her country’s successful model of integrating Maori cultural heritage into national governance.
She noted that leadership must be “intentional” about diversity. “I always start with the ‘I’,” she explained, “because if you’re not a committed, inclusive leader, you will not get to the destination of equity.”
Former President of Mauritius Cassam Uteem illustrated how cultural diplomacy works in practice, sharing how his small island nation has played a major role in international cultural politics. He highlighted Mauritius’ participation in UNESCO, bringing perspectives of small, developing island states into global discussions.
The panelists unanimously agreed that traditional international institutions are ill-equipped to handle today’s complex cultural landscape. They called for more innovative approaches that place culture at the center of global governance, rather than treating it as a peripheral concern.
“Culture is the mirror of human existence and the producer of new dreams, and without dreams, we lose our human dignity,” said Radicova.
A recurring theme was the need to combat misinformation and protect cultural authenticity in an era of tech moguls ruling the roost and advancements in artificial intelligence.
“If you would like to build social cohesion and solidarity around the world, you have to fight for the truth, and openly, without dancing around, with courage and really verified arguments,” said Radicova.
Bella Hadid celebrates beauty brand in Texas after Gigi Hadid’s birthday in New York
DUBAI: Almost one year since launching her fragrance brand Orebella, US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid made an appearance at the Ulta Beauty Field Leadership Convention in San Antonio, Texas, to promote her label.
The alcohol-free scents of Orebella, which launched in May 2024, were Hadid’s answer to traditional perfumes. The model dubs her fragrances “skin perfumes” and she has described them as “hydrating, alcohol-free and enriched with essential oils.”
Hadid attended the convention hosted by cosmetics chain store Ulta Beauty, taking to Instagram to say it “is so beautiful because we get to celebrate so many amazing brands but most of all we get to celebrate all of the hard working Ulta family that help us feel great!”
Hadid jetted to San Antonio after celebrating her sister Gigi Hadid’s 30th birthday in New York. The birthday party was held at Le Chalet in New York City on April 25, and Bella attended in a chic all-black look complete with dark sunglasses.
Gigi entered the venue with her partner, Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper, and met up with her sister Bella, mother Yolanda Hadid, father Mohamed Hadid, Russian media personality Keni Silva and US actress Anne Hathaway.
Gigi’s birthday was on April 23, and the internet was abuzz with celebrities, designers, family and friends who sent birthday wishes to the supermodel as she turned 30.
Bella shared a carousel of photos on Instagram to celebrate, writing: “IT’S GIGI DAY EVERYONE SAY IT WITH ME. HAPPPYYY 30th BIRTHDAYYYY JELENAAAA.”
Yolanda Hadid, Gigi’s mother, took a moment to reflect on her daughter’s 30-year journey. “Thirty years went by in a flash, 10,950 days to be exact but there hasn’t been one day without you on my mind,” she wrote, sharing photos of Gigi from babyhood to recent moments.
She added: “As you know giving birth to your first born is life changing, it really marks the first day of the rest of your life as you transition from womanhood into the blessing of motherhood. Today is your special day and I want to say thank for choosing me to be your mommy and for all the love, light and reflection you have brought into my life.”
Italian designer Donatella Versace also shared a birthday message, posting a few images with Gigi and writing: “Happy Birthday to my Taurus twin, @gigihadid! I wish I was with you on this special day. I am sending you kisses and so much love - today and always. Love you!”
