What would be your perfect meal?

Name: Zakariya Mohamed, From: Qatar
Makbous is my perfect meal, especially when the whole family members gather before the tray of meat and rice. It is mainly made of a mixture of Arab spices, basmati rice, meat and vegetables. It is my perfect meal because it brings us together and gives us good feelings of unity when we eat from one tray. The problem is that many of my peers are not much inclined to have it. If it is up to them, they will still order takeaway food from restaurants. The best way to prepare the meat used in Makbous is to cook it in a covered hole in the ground. Qatari families used to serve Makbous when they hosted important guests. It is also the national dish of Qatar that is served during feasts, weddings, and on all happy occasions.

Name: Talal Barakat, From: Jordan
Mansaf is my favourite dish. It is a complete meal and once I have it, I feel content. The dish has become part of Jordanian hospitality. For that reason, it is the traditional meal that any guest should expect when visiting Jordan. It is made of lamb meat and dried milk of sheep (namely jameed). People used to serve it on special occasions such as weddings, births and feasts. Traditionally it is eaten collectively from a large tray using the right hand while keeping the left hand behind. Even when you serve it for guests, it would not be welcome if they used utensils. I always feel homesick when I remember it especially that no restaurants in Doha prepare it the same way they do it at home. The best Mansaf is the one served on a large Arab flatbread with rice and meat garnished with nuts and sauce.

Name: Adrian, From: Canada
Just like my favourite movie, video game or album, my perfect meal depends on the mood I’m in. For example, yesterday I desperately wanted some glass noodles with beef, and nothing would have made me happier than to just dig in to it. As I relate this, I would prefer a large amount of sushi, with some Saki to go with it. It’s fascinating; most of the food I eat comes from other cultures. This is probably a reflection of Canada’s multi-ethnic background. The fact of the matter is that Canadians don’t really have native meals. Even our traditional food is really French. So basically, my perfect meal consists of the best of various cultures, combined in just such a way that the idiosyncrasies of each piece of food does not conflict with the others.

Name: Ismael Hussein, From: Iran
My favourite food is what my mother cooks for us at home, a traditional Iranian food, which other people think is weird and disgusting. My mother used to put fresh raw fish in glass boxes and leave it in the sun for days. The fish would rot and their fluid would come out. A very delicious and great soup could be made out of this. It sounds repulsive and grimy but it is the most delicious soup I have ever tasted and I do not think it disgusting at all. Some of my friends think it is horrible, but they would have to try it.

Name: Anupama, From: India
Having asked what my perfect meal would be, it would definitely be food cooked at home by my mother. Being a Keralite, I can’t live without having rice at least once a day. The famous “sadhya”, a festive meal, is what comes to my mind when I talk about a full-fledged meal. It has all the traditional dishes like Sambhar, Sabji (vegetables), and papad; and this would not be complete without the porridge. A perfect ending to a good meal would be capping it off with a chocolate brownie dessert, with the flavour still tingling on my tongue long after the meal is over. A perfect meal consists not only of food, but also the right company around you. In this regard, some of the best meals I have had would be with my family and friends.