Recipes for success: Chef Mukkram Kazim offers advice and a lobster thermidor and pommes Anna recipe

Recipes for success: Chef Mukkram Kazim offers advice and a lobster thermidor and pommes Anna recipe
Mukkram Kazim is the head chef at French fine-dining restaurant L’ami Dave in Mansard Riyadh. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 09 August 2024
Follow

Recipes for success: Chef Mukkram Kazim offers advice and a lobster thermidor and pommes Anna recipe

Recipes for success: Chef Mukkram Kazim offers advice and a lobster thermidor and pommes Anna recipe

DUBAI: Mukkram Kazim, head chef at French fine-dining restaurant L’ami Dave in Mansard Riyadh, began his career aged 18 in the UK, where he studied culinary arts and gained experience in fine dining. Kazim worked in prestigious restaurants in London before taking on “a significant role” with a luxury cruise line under famed US chef Thomas Keller. 

That job took him across Europe, America, Asia and Australia, broadening his culinary perspective. 




L’ami Dave in Mansard Riyadh. (Supplied)

Kazim then opened his own restaurant, Gusto Italian, in England before taking the lead in the kitchen at L’ami Dave.

Here, Kazim discusses common mistakes, his favorite dish to cook, and his management style.   

When you started out what was the most common mistake you made?  

A mistake many chefs make early in their career is not properly tasting and seasoning dishes as they cook. It’s easy to assume that a dish will turn out well without frequent adjustments, but flavors can change during cooking. Regular tasting and adjustments are crucial for a balanced final dish.  

What’s your top tip for amateur chefs?     

Focus on mastering basic techniques. Understanding how to properly handle knifes, cook vegetables and manage heat can make a huge difference. Once you’re comfortable with the basics, experimenting with flavor and ingredients becomes much easier and more enjoyable.  




L'ami Dave - creme brulee. (Supplied)

What ingredient can instantly improve any dish? 

A high-quality sea salt. It enhances the natural flavors of ingredients and can make a noticeable difference in taste. Just a pinch can elevate the overall dish. 

When you go out to eat, do you find yourself critiquing the food? What’s the most-common mistake that you find in other restaurants?

Yes, as a chef, I think it’s natural to critique food when dining out. One common mistake I notice is inconsistency. Sometimes dishes can be under seasoned or unevenly seasoned, which affects the overall flavor.  

What’s your favorite cuisine? 

I usually go for Arabic or Indian cuisine, especially dishes featuring rice and meat. I enjoy the depth of flavors and the complexity of spices that these cuisines offer. Dishes like biryani or kabsa are particularly appealing because they combine aromatic spices with tender meat and flavorful rice, making for a satisfying and rich meal. 

What’s your go-to dish if you have to cook something quickly at home?

A simple pasta aglio e olio. Just pasta, garlic, olive oil and a pinch of red pepper flakes. It’s flavorful and satisfying, and can be made in about 20 minutes with minimal effort. Plus, it’s a great way to use up staples and can be easily customized with extra ingredients. 




L'ami Dave - Roasted Beef Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts. (Supplied)

What customer behavior most annoys you? 

When they ask for excessive or frequent changes to a dish after it’s been ordered. Accommodating special requests is part of the job, but constant adjustments can complicate the preparation process and impact the timing and quality of the meal. Clear communication about preferences and limitations means a smoother dining experience for everyone. 

What’s your favorite dish to cook?

Mutton curry with spinach. I love it — the combination of tender lamb and vibrant spinach, infused with aromatic spices. The process of blending spices and achieving the perfect balance of flavors is incredibly satisfying, and the result is a dish that’s both comforting and impressive. 

What’s the most difficult dish for you to get right?

One of the most challenging to perfect is soufflé. It requires precise timing, temperature control, and the right technique to achieve the perfect rise and texture. Even slight deviations can lead to a deflated or uneven soufflé, making it a true test of a chef’s skill and attention to detail. 

As a head chef, what are you like? 

I strive to strike a balance between being authoritative and approachable. I believe in leading with respect and setting high standards, while ensuring that every aspect of the kitchen runs smoothly. My approach involves clear communication and a commitment to quality.

Chef Mukkram’s lobster thermidor and pommes Anna recipe 




(Supplied)

INGREDIENTS:

1 whole lobster (including tails and claws); 120g thermidor sauce (instructions below); 30g unsalted butter; 180g of pommes Anna (instructions below); 2g microgreens 

For the thermidor sauce (yield = 2.4kg)

INGREDIENTS: 150g butter; 100g flour; 900ml milk; 1l cream; 200g shallots; 150g leeks; 15g garlic; 200ml American malt; 750ml shrimp stock (instructions below); 180g gruyere cheese; 25g dijon mustard; 40g Maldon salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine 125g of butter with the flour and mix until evenly distributed. This is your beurre manié. Set aside and keep at room temperature. 

Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the remaining butter.

When the butter foams, add the shallot, leeks, garlic and salt.

Sweat the vegetables until soft, do not allow them to brown.

Add malt and cook for a minute. Add the shrimp stock.

Reduce the liquid by half, add the cream and milk and bring to a simmer.

Whisk in the beurre manié.

Reduce to a very low heat and cook for 20 minutes, stirring frequently.

Whisk in the mustard and cheese. 

Strain the sauce through chinois.  

For the pommes Anna 

INGREDIENTS: 1 kg sliced potatoes; 220g duck fat; 20g Maldon salt

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Peel the potatoes and slice thinly.

Pour the duck fat on top and mix well.

Layer the sliced potatoes in a mold, seasoning each layer. 

Cover with parchment and cook at 180 C for 30 minutes.

Once cooked place a tray on top 

Leave overnight in the fridge to press and set.   

For the shrimp stock

INGREDIENTS: 1kg seafood shells; 2L water; 250g torpedo shallots, peeled, quartered; 200g celery; 60g sliced lemon; 100g fennel; 10g black peppercorns; 5g fresh bay leaf

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Roast the shells in the oven. 

Add all the ingredients to a large pot, along with the roasted shells.   

Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. 


Review: ‘I Am Georgina,’ Season 3 — reality TV, Saudi style

Review: ‘I Am Georgina,’ Season 3 — reality TV, Saudi style
Updated 18 September 2024
Follow

Review: ‘I Am Georgina,’ Season 3 — reality TV, Saudi style

Review: ‘I Am Georgina,’ Season 3 — reality TV, Saudi style

DUBAI: Netflix’s “Soy Georgina” (“I Am Georgina”) is back, and this time it explores Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez’s life after her move to Saudi Arabia with partner Cristiano Ronaldo in 2023.

The reality show dominated the Netflix Top 10 in 46 countries after the release of season two. One episode was set entirely in Dubai and showed the Burj Khalifa lit up for Rodriguez’s 28th birthday.

The model-meets-Middle Eastern-luxury formula seems to be one the producers were keen to continue, with fans taken on a whirlwind tour of the Kingdom in season three as Rodriguez and her family explore life in the country.

However, the high-end hotels and stunning seascapes are interspersed with moments of real introspection and fragility, which takes this program from stereotypical reality TV territory to something altogether more inviting and — dare I say it? — heartwarming.

We follow Rodriguez as she embarks on a number of firsts. These include the opening of her first beach house, Villa Perla, to starring in an international campaign for a famous clothing brand and making her debut at Paris Fashion Week by walking for Swiss fashion label Vetements.

One of the most touching aspects of the show is Rodriguez’s relationship with her children — the couple have five, the eldest of whom was born to another mother. The opening scenes of the season show Rodriguez’s worrying about, and praising, her kids and it offers a new side to the woman we are more used to seeing on fashion billboards.

Similarly, the — albeit sparse — scenes of a football legend pottering around with his young family offers insight into Ronaldo as a father, for which the series is all the better.

There are, thankfully, no engineered high-drama interactions and although it does sometimes feel like a carefully staged advertorial, there are candid caught-on-camera moments where the star seems tense and nervous at public events.

She is also not one to shy away from talking about her humble roots and being honest about the sometimes taxing reality of her life in the spotlight and what it takes to be a poster girl for all things glamor.


From London to Milan, Nora Attal dominates fashion week  

From London to Milan, Nora Attal dominates fashion week  
Updated 18 September 2024
Follow

From London to Milan, Nora Attal dominates fashion week  

From London to Milan, Nora Attal dominates fashion week  

DUBAI: British Moroccan model Nora Attal made a mark at London Fashion Week, walking in high-profile shows such as Burberry, Simone Rocha and Nensi Dojaka — all within a span of just two days.

At the Burberry show, she showcased a casual ensemble featuring light beige knee-length shorts paired with a striped, collared button-down shirt that was slightly tucked in at the front. Over this, she sported a muted olive green blazer with rolled-up sleeves. Her outfit was complemented by a large, quilted shoulder bag and matching beige and cream-colored loafers, the latter of which were adorned with small studs.

Attal showcased a casual ensemble featuring light beige knee-length shorts paired with a striped, collared button-down shirt. (Getty Images)

British designer Daniel Lee has been steering Burberry’s creative direction for the past two years with innovative flair. For women, he reimagined the classic trench coat into various forms including a cropped jacket, a halter cape or a parka with shoulders covered in silk organza faux feather trims, layered over delicate dresses or skirts, blending elegance with a sportier, even military style.

For men, the influence of sportswear fashion was even stronger, with lightweight materials and functional cuts, giving rise to outfits of flowing pants and tartan zip-up jackets, paired with sneakers or loafers.

The model stepped out on the Nensi Dojaka runway in a form-fitting, short black dress. (Getty Images)

The collection also gave a nod to the resurgence of y2k fashion, with low-rise trousers, cargos and capris that end below the knee.

The show was attended by Arab figures including Saudi producer Moahmmed Al-Turki, Australia-born model Shanina Shaik — who is of Saudi, Pakistani and Lithuanian descent — and Dubai-based influencer Ola Farahat. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by SIMONE ROCHA (@simonerocha_)

For the Simone Rocha show, Attal donned an ensemble that featured a long-sleeved, sheer top with a fitted bodice. Beneath this, a satiny black dress was visible, designed with a cinched waist. The dress extended into a flowing skirt that daringly split high on the thigh. 

Meanwhile, the model stepped out on the Nensi Dojaka runway in a form-fitting, short black dress. The design included an asymmetrical neckline, with one shoulder adorned with delicate, ruffled white fabric. 

After wrapping up her appearances at London Fashion Week, the model headed to Milan to partake in its fashion week that started on Tuesday. She kicked off her runway engagements by walking for Alberta Ferretti, wearing a black strapless, figure-hugging mini dress embellished with beadwork and lace detailing.


Riyadh International Book Fair promises celebration of literature

Riyadh International Book Fair promises celebration of literature
Updated 18 September 2024
Follow

Riyadh International Book Fair promises celebration of literature

Riyadh International Book Fair promises celebration of literature
  • Fair will host writers, thinkers, and intellectuals from Saudi Arabia and beyond, making it a pivotal literary platform in the region
  • Mohammed Hasan Alwan: The fair offers visitors a unique intellectual and cultural experience, incorporating the latest technologies and digital solutions

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission is gearing up for the 2024 Riyadh International Book Fair, which is set to take place from Sept. 26 to Oct. 5 at King Saud University in Riyadh.

With about 2,000 local, Arab and international publishing houses and agencies from more than 30 countries adorning 800 booths, this year’s fair promises to be a celebration of literature, knowledge, and creativity.

The fair will host writers, thinkers, and intellectuals from Saudi Arabia and beyond, making it a pivotal literary platform in the region.

Qatar will be the guest of honor at the fair. The rich cultural and intellectual legacy of the country will be on display through a dedicated pavilion featuring rare manuscripts and publications from Qatar’s Ministry of Culture.

Leading literary and artistic luminaries, alongside key organizations from Qatar’s cultural landscape, will feature at the event.

Mohammed Hasan Alwan, the CEO of the commission, said that the fair illustrated the unwavering support for cultural endeavors in Saudi Arabia.

Alwan said: “The fair offers visitors a unique intellectual and cultural experience, incorporating the latest technologies and digital solutions. Attendees can discover thousands of new releases across various fields and enjoy a wide range of activities and events within the diverse cultural program, featuring prominent cultural figures from Saudi Arabia and beyond.

“This makes the 2024 edition a truly inspiring cultural journey, building on the successes of previous editions.”

This year’s fair boasts a dedicated business zone, with participation from literary agencies managing authors’ works and contracts, and with printing presses offering services to publishers. Additionally, there will be government and financial institution booths related to the publishing business sector.

The zone will host special sessions and workshops on topics such as entrepreneurship, licensing and copyright.

The fair will also feature a children’s area brimming with literary, cultural, and entertainment activities aimed at igniting the spark of curiosity in the young generation.

By championing local authors, providing a platform for self-published works, and offering a diverse range of cultural activities, the fair reflects the Kingdom’s efforts to nurture creativity and promote literary innovation.

The fair’s diverse cultural and intellectual activities are to be hosted in partnership with the Cultural Channel.

The program includes dialogue sessions, workshops, poetry evenings, and concerts and artistic performances designed to enrich the cultural sector, foster knowledge and promote reading as a way of life, while contributing to the sustainability of the cultural and intellectual renaissance underway in Saudi society.


Dubai gallery to host Andy Warhol exhibition ‘The Glam Factory’

Dubai gallery to host Andy Warhol exhibition ‘The Glam Factory’
Updated 18 September 2024
Follow

Dubai gallery to host Andy Warhol exhibition ‘The Glam Factory’

Dubai gallery to host Andy Warhol exhibition ‘The Glam Factory’

DUBAI: Artworks by late pop art icon Andy Warhol will be displayed in the UAE as part of “The Glam Factory” exhibition at the Foundry gallery in Dubai.

Curated by Nada Ghandour, “The Glam Factory” highlights Warhol, a prominent American artist in the 1960s known for his pop art style. “Campbell’s Soup Cans,” “Marilyn Monroe” and “Banana” are among his most famous pieces.

In an interview with Arab News, Heritage Curator Nada Ghandour described the exhibition as a “new reading of Andy Warhol’s work through the lens of our digital era and here in Dubai.”

Warhol moved to New York City in 1949 to pursue his American Dream and become rich and famous, said Ghandour.

“People today come to Dubai to also live out this dream. The American dream is more about opportunity and prosperity, and we know that many people today are moving to Dubai because it is a destination for stability and growth,” she explained.

Inspired by Warhol’s workshop “The Silver Factory,” Ghandour named the exhibition “The Glam Factory,” paying homage to his artistic process.

To draw a portrait, she explained, Warhol would take about 150 photos. He would then choose small parts from each photo and mix them together.

“He was capable of doing the job of a plastic surgeon; this was the glamorous and beautiful aspect of it,” she said.

Ghandour described Warhol as an artistic and technological visionary.

“Warhol was ahead of his time and was describing the artificial intelligence that we know now,” she said.

If he were alive now, she added, “he would speak to AI to create something in collaboration with a computer.”

The collection features over 100 of Warhol’s original pieces including screen prints, photos and magazine illustrations.

Located at the Foundry art space in Downtown Dubai, “The Glam Factory” exhibition is set to run from Sept. 20 to Oct. 31 of this year.


Mona Zaki-starring ‘Flight 404’ chosen as Egypt’s Oscars submission

Mona Zaki-starring ‘Flight 404’ chosen as Egypt’s Oscars submission
Updated 17 September 2024
Follow

Mona Zaki-starring ‘Flight 404’ chosen as Egypt’s Oscars submission

Mona Zaki-starring ‘Flight 404’ chosen as Egypt’s Oscars submission

DUBAI: Egyptian actress Mona Zaki and the Egyptian Film Syndicate announced this week that the film “Flight 404” will be Egypt’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Academy Awards.

This means that the film will be considered for the shortlist. If the movie gets shortlisted, it could then get nominated for an Academy Award.

The movie tells the story of Ghada, who, just days before her Hajj pilgrimage, is confronted with an emergency that requires a large sum of money. Forced to seek help, she must turn to individuals from a troubled past she had promised to leave behind.

Besides Zaki, the film, directed by filmmaker Hani Khalifa and scripted by Mohamed Ragaa, stars actors Mohamed Farag, Mohamed Mamdouh, Shereen Reda, Khaled El-Sawy, Mohamed Alaa, Hassan Al-Adl, Sama Ibrahim, Shadi Alfons, Rana Raies, Gihan El-Shamashergy and Arfa Abdel Rassoul.

The Oscar’s 97th edition is set to take place on March 3, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. 

Key dates for the 2025 submissions and voting were announced earlier this year. The deadline for general entries and Best Picture submissions is Thursday, Nov. 14. Preliminary voting for shortlists in ten categories will occur between Dec. 9-13, with the results to be revealed on Dec. 17. The nominations voting period will run from Jan. 8-12, and the official nominations will be announced on Friday, Jan. 17—a shift from the usual earlier-in-the-week schedule.

Last year, Egypt selected Mohamed Farag-starring “Voy Voy Voy!” as its entry for the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film award, while Yemen selected director Amr Gamal’s “The Burdened” and Tunisia competed with Kaouther Ben Hania’s “Four Daughters.” Morocco selected Asmae El-Moudir’s documentary “The Mother of All Lies.” 

Jordan submitted Amjad Al-Rasheed’s movie “Inshallah a Boy” and Palestine submitted Lina Soualem’s documentary “Bye Bye Tiberias.” 

None of the films won at the 2024 Oscars, though “Four Daughters” was nominated for Best Documentary Feature, a category ultimately won by “20 Days in Mariupol.” This marked a historic moment for director Kaouther Ben Hania, as she became the first Arab woman to receive a second Oscar nomination.