He had muscle atrophy, and he aspires to an academy to teach local culinary arts

Emirati Chef Al Hashemi: I will continue my dream even in a wheelchair

• Al-Hashemi: I passed the crisis and went back to my kitchen.

  Photography: Eric Arrasas

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Despite the health crisis faced by the chef, Abdullah Al Hashemi, his great passion for international cuisines, and his attachment to the Emirati culinary arts, which he mastered merging with different East and West dishes with an unusual touch, motivated him to move forward in presenting his innovative modern “recipes”, even in his wheelchair. And that was after recent medical reports proved that he suffered from atrophy in the muscles of his two legs and nerve damage, caused by his long suffering with diabetes.

Al-Hashemi revealed to "Emirates Today" that the last weeks were the most difficult for him, with conflicting opinions about the diagnosis of the disease and the causes of his temporary disability, and the need for him to adhere to special medical instructions, after which he decided to return again to the passion of the kitchen to prepare recipes for his various dishes, armed with his faith The strong judge of God, his good and his bad, as he put it.

He stressed that his great ambitions and hopes will not stop because of the disease, as he intends to turn this ordeal by force of will into an incentive for self-improvement and hard work to achieve the dream, adding: “I was able, thank God, to overcome this crisis, and I returned to my kitchen to present to my fans the newest innovative recipes that I hope will be admired and approved by them. ».

Al Hashemi continued: “I am always looking for new and unprecedented ideas that will enable me to present a vision that actually elevates the authentic Emirati cuisine, by integrating the components and details of a number of traditional international kitchens with their diverse and famous flavors, with the ingredients of the traditional local cuisine, to devise contemporary tastes that meet the taste of food lovers, And new followers on social media.

innovative ideas

About the beginnings of this passion, the Emirati chef explained that he loved cooking skills since early childhood, as he mastered taking care of its development through daily practice and preparing various dishes, or previewing the details of this art through his multiple travels and movements between different countries around the world, in which he tried to see the most important The traditional flavors and dishes of each country, inquiring about their ingredients and preparation methods, before returning to the Emirates and seriously thinking about opening a private restaurant through which he satisfies his great love for cooking.

He continued: "In the beginning, I opened a restaurant in Al Ain and another branch in Ajman, through which I was able to provide innovative meals of (burgers) with (pasta), and I do not deny that I was very pleased with the great acceptance I found among people and their clear acceptance at the time of the new recipe, which quickly In no time, it turned into the best-selling meal on our menu, and it also succeeded in creating the Emirati “Machboos” meal with (steak), which, although I was afraid of it at first, has met the expected approval, since it was tried for the first time on a small scale that included family, family and friends. ».

Ice cream "burning"

The uniqueness of Al-Hashemi’s dishes did not stop at the limits of mixing traditional flavors with multiple international ones, as she went beyond them to create a new type of ice cream that clearly contributed to the definition of his talent in the field, and he said: “The audience quickly accepted my new method of preparing red pepper ice cream, which prompted The media at that time invited me to talk about my new recipe with a burning flavor, which was presented for the first time, and it encouraged me at that time to turn to social media and present my meals and dishes to people to try and express their opinions on their flavors, and since then I realized the extent of the audience’s response to the new flavors that I incorporate Every time, and the ways I prepare various local and international dishes, which are followed not only by women, but also by the young generation of athletes who joined my digital channels after the meal (porridge with oats), which I recently presented, and it witnessed a great demand due to its new and very healthy ingredients.”

Privacy

Al-Hashemi proudly talks about the peculiarity of the Emirati cuisine, which is rich in many successful traditional dishes that live up to the world, and only lacks marketing and promotion externally like other famous international kitchens, considering that the Emirati cuisine converges in its details with the Gulf cuisine in general, and in return preserves the privacy of its local flavors, Especially his sweets, which are popular with a large group of tourists and foreigners, and perhaps the motive that motivated Al Hashemi to specialize and obtain a certificate in the field, enabling him to open an academy to learn the arts of blending traditional Emirati dishes with contemporary international flavors.

Abdullah Al Hashemi:

• “My great hopes will not stop due to illness, as I intend to turn this ordeal by force of will into an incentive.”

• “I succeeded in creating the Emirati (Machboos) meal with (steak), which, despite my fear, was well received.”

Advice for young people

Emirati chef, Abdullah Al-Hashemi, gave advice to ambitious youth who wish to open private projects in any field, based on his experience in the field of cooking and restaurants, and said: “I always advise young people to face the experience on their own, and to rely on themselves in managing their projects, and personally supervising all its details. Otherwise, abandon the idea completely.”

appeal

Al-Hashemi appealed to the officials and the concerned authorities to look into his health condition, after the malaise he was exposed to, to help him return to his normal life, appealing: “I hope to help me and look at my condition, which, if it cripples me, only increases my determination to follow the path of my dreams with success.”

• Emirati traditional dishes are up to international standards, and they are only lacking in marketing and promotion abroad.

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