By Mudassar Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, May 31 (APP): Man’s tendency “not to accept monotony” has given this world new dimensions and inventions and the food being the most essential part of human life could be the most effective tools of strengthening people to people contacts across the globe, if variety of tastes is shared and promoted effectively.
The participants, at a food festival organized here at a local hotel to introduce and promote Arabian, Italian and Pakistani dishes, have a unanimous approach that variety of food across the globe, owing to their taste and ingredients, has the potential to help strengthen human bonds, setting aside all odds and differences.
The envoys from Romania, Indonesia, Algeria, Sri Lanka, Qatar and a large number of officials and local community was highly appreciative of the event that provided them to experience new culinary tastes from across the globe and especially Pakistan’s four provinces’ traditional foods.
The event was made more attractive with Pakistan’s cultural heritage promotion made through traditional dresses and stalls that enthralled the international participants who took keen interest to knowing more about Pakistan’s rich enchanting cultural dimensions.
The four day Traditional Food Festival was inaugurated by Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid. The minister speaking on the occasion said organizing a regional food festival was a healthy and cultural activity which would promote our cultural flavours among diplomats and other foreigners living here in cosmopolitan city.
The organizer of the event Executive Assistant Manager Islamabad Hotel Rizwan Tirmizi said, “The basic aim of organizing this event was to offer locals and international community a recreational opportunity besides introducing and promoting local and regional food.”
The country’s all four provinces’ cultural representation was also ensured through stalls to highlight among world community that how blessed rich heritage it possess, he remarked.
The roof top scenic view event, another success story of human interaction, was advertised by the Capital Development Authority in which a large number of local people and foreign diplomats participated with great enthusim, Rizwan said.
Executive Chef Amir who was very appreciative of the encouragement he got from the participants, especially foreign envoys, said the centre of attention were our new dishes for which “our team got huge encouragement and recommendation from the participants”.
The” Lamb Kabsa, Chicken Peshawari Boti, Balochi Gosht, Chicken Tagin” Harisa, Cinemon Cake, American Salad and Grilled Beef Salad were the most liked among dozens of dishes by the participants, the Organizer shared.
‘A visitor, who was also appreciative of the food festival, said there should be more activities like that and government must help promote country’s soft and undisclosed features to world community to project our real and distinctive image among comity of nations.
Another participant Naila Jabeen, who was curious to know about the recipe of one of the dishes from the cooking team, said it was amazing experience to taste some different and new dishes and would try to cook them at home for her family.
Rizwan said although this was organized at the end of the month, people participated in a large number and appreciated the efforts and a new change in the environment, which is giving the new trend to hoteling and quality time for the families as well.
One of the visitor also demands they should arrange such festivals outdoor as well and it would create a fascinating environment for the viewers and entertaining too.
