Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Top Bahraini chef Yusuf Qamber will be serving up a unique gastronomic experience, with local ingredients and flavours, on November 28, offering guests a golden opportunity to reconnect with their roots.
Marking the fifth edition of his creation, The Supper Club, The Prophet’s Table will be hosted at Al Riwaq Art Space in Gufool.
It will feature a five-course menu inspired by the rich culinary traditions of seventh-century Arabia, taking guests on an elegant journey through time.
The event will emulate Prophet Muhammad’s holistic – body, mind, and soul connection – approach to food, while also offering a spiritual ambience.
Further, it will serve as a platform for guests to exchange ideas about food and culture.
While the menu includes local ingredients, honouring the simplicity of the Prophet’s dietary preferences, each dish will be skilfully crafted with a modern touch.
Yusuf has previously hosted The Supper Club at the gallery, as well as for other collaborative government projects.
“One day, I got thinking about how food reaches our table and the struggle of those who work to grow our food, which sparked the idea for The Supper Club,” the 31-year-old told GulfWeekly.
“According to legend, tortillas were invented by a Mayan peasant for his hungry king. Fascinated by the story, I decided to explore my own Arab heritage. Food is an international language that brings people together,” he added.
The self-taught chef, who works closely with the Rashid Al Khalifa Art Foundation to conduct extensive research about food and its history, learned that Bahrain’s cuisine is diverse and influenced by different cultures of the world.
“My research led me to Prophet Muhammad’s humble approach to food, like all other aspects of his life.
“We follow his teachings but how many of us know his ‘meditative’ approach to food? He used ingredients like honey, oats and yoghurt, which have soothing, anti-depressive properties, and this is something science has confirmed. He dined with friends, which is also a mood booster and helps with mental and emotional well-being.
“Today, most people prefer instant meals, or ingredients that aren’t locally grown. Are we eating what we’re supposed to eat? It’s always better to eat local and we can always adapt the ingredients and change the dishes to suit today’s times. That is the idea behind this event,” the Riffa resident noted.
Yusuf has fond childhood memories of dining with his family - all seated on the floor together, eating the food his grandmother prepared. The communal nature of food is what got him to pursue a career in the field.
“I always wanted to tell stories and studied radio and television but eventually realised that food is my calling and now I tell stories through my food,” the culinary enthusiast, who has a Bachelor’s degree in Media from Bahrain University, revealed.
Raised in Muharraq for most of his life, the Bahraini chef plans to continue hosting similar events, bringing people together at the table. He will also continue to study food and its history, educating the community.
For details, follow @yqamber on Instagram.
