The rich culinary heritage of Andalusia was showcased at a special live cooking event organised at Qatar National Library (QNL), in partnership with Spain’s Islamic Culture Foundation of Madrid.

Juan Ramon Sobero, head chef at La Liga Lounge-Sheraton Grand Doha, and Ines Elexpuru, author of ‘Cooking in Al-Andalus: Culinary Magic and Seduction’, led the workshop. 
Participants learned several Andalusian recipes during the event, the concluding activity of the three-month-long ‘Gardens of Al-Andalus’ exhibition, which was brought to QNL by the Islamic Culture Foundation. The exhibition showed the Spanish Muslim garden from different perspectives. In the Andalusian period, hundreds of botanic species from the East were introduced and acclimatised to Spain. These new species continue to be used in landscape gardening, cosmetics, pharmacopeia and cuisine.


Participants learned several Andalusian recipes during the event

Ada Romero Sanchez, Special Collection and Exhibitions co-ordinator at QNL, said: “As the national library, we are committed to reviving centuries-old traditions and connecting people from across cultures. This event was a prime opportunity for library visitors to learn about the Muslim civilisation in Andalusia and its contributions to the region and its range of cuisine, and how they still live on.”
Elexpuru, one of the exhibition’s organisers, said: “The entire exhibition and special events such as this demonstration are a way to exchange culture, research and learning with our peers in Qatar. We are proud to have partnered with Qatar National Library for this event, which has enabled us to highlight important historical and cultural elements common to both Qatar and Spain.”
To find out more about the library’s monthly events, one can visit www.qnl.qa/en/events.

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