This Ramadan poses the chance for families to come together in the spirit of season and support one another as has been done for the past months. In line with this, Betty Crocker invited one and all to be a part of its “The Kitchen is for Everyone” movement. Following the change of over 20 million packs across 40 products, inspired by eight-year-old Sultan, who identified that the Arabic language used in the instructions addressed only females, the baking giant has issued an open invite to welcome the entire family to the kitchen space.
Chef Adnan is a supporter of ‘The Kitchen is for Everyone’ campaign, inviting all regardless of age, gender or occupation to step up and step into the kitchen. Not only is cooking a great skill to be picked up, it is also a way for many to relax and get creative, and when done in the company of loved ones, offers the chance to create unique memories.
Questions:
• Tell us a bit more about yourself, and what inspired you to become as chef as a male in the Arab world?
What inspired me as a man in the Arab world to become an executive chef is my passion for Arabic oriental food with its different spices and flavours. Add to that my previous skills in cooking other foreign food that helped make some of my recipes really unique.
Of course, I faced many challenges in the beginning as an eastern man who wants to become a professional chef, but as years passed, I overcame these obstacles. And recently, people has started to change the way they look to this profession.
• What inspired you to be part of this challenge? First paragraph
When I saw Sultans story and the response from Betty Crocker, I was inspired. As a male chef myself, I believe that anyone can cook, men, women or children. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from. This is the kind of message we need to spread in the world. Especially in the current situation, when we are forced to be apart, we must come together and show that we support each other. And a brand like Betty Crocker makes it easy for us to come together because they make baking easy, even people who have never been in the kitchen before can bake, thanks to Betty Crocker.
• Why do you believe ‘The Kitchen is for everyone’?
The kitchen has been a special place for me. I have built my career in the kitchen. It has brought me many happy moments. And I believe that everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from, can enjoy the magic of the kitchen. If you’re a man or a woman, if you are young or you are old-you can bake and cook. It doesn’t matter if you are a professional or a beginner, the kitchen doesn’t discriminate. That’s what makes it such a special space. Baking is about having fun. It’s about trying something new. It’s about making a mess and laughing about it. The kitchen is a place for family and friends to come together and share some joy and happiness. I have so many beautiful memories in the kitchen, and as a chef myself, I would love for people to have those memories too. That’s why I support this initiative from Betty Crocker. They are spreading an important message.
• What do you think are the benefits of coming together during this time as a family within the kitchen?
Ramadan is a very special time of the year. Now more than ever, we need to find ways to come together. We need to find new ways to connect with the ones we love and show them we care. Nothing brings people together, like preparing a meal together. It is a special experience. But the best thing about it is that it can become a tradition. Something that families do together all the time, a way to create special memories and moments with friends and family that will stay with you forever.
• What challenges do you think first timers in the kitchen will face?
The kitchen can seem a little daunting for beginners and most of the time people are afraid to make mistakes. After all baking and cooking have a science behind them. Understanding different measurements, getting the temperature right, learning and understanding the terminology used, and of course all the different utensils needed, can all seem very complicated and overwhelming. But just remember its ok to make mistakes. The most important thing is to enjoy yourself. Cooking is a way for people to express themselves, and even those who are just beginning should do that. There are lots of easy recipes that are easy to follow for people to try. As well as a whole range of products that make first time experiences easy and enjoyable, like Betty Crocker’s easy to use range of products.
• We are seeing a lot of cooking videos by non-professionals on social media, do you think social platforms have changed the region’s perception of cooking and being in the kitchen especially in KSA?
Food has always been an important part of our culture. Mealtime has been when the family comes together. The shift I have seen, because of social media, is that more and more people are open to actually cooking themselves. Cooking is no longer seen as just a necessity but has become a way for people to express themselves. What we have seen is that people are happy to share their cooking and kitchen creations with the world. And I think that is an amazing change.
