
Twist on tradition
The Holy Month of Ramadan may be known primarily for its custom of fasting, but an upcoming cooking show is serving up playful twists on the cultural feasts that come at the end of the day.
The Art Station in Muharraq is kicking off its cooking show in Ramadan, to celebrate the culinary arts and explore themes of heritage, creativity and community-building, highlighting how people are brought together by food.
The Art Station Kitchen will offer modern Bahrain-based chefs an opportunity to showcase their take on traditional recipes and flavours.
'Many traditional dishes are passed down through generations, but Ramadan also invites the opportunity to put a new spin on these recipes,' Art Station director Shaikha Latifa bint Abdulrahman Al Khalifa told GulfWeekly.
'Our cooking show allows our guests to honour traditional flavours while also making them more modern.'
Amongst the invited guest chefs showcasing their culinary arts are Scoop Creamery founder Alya Al Ammari and Dona's Wonders founder Dona Maria Gemayel, who are serving up spins on karak tea, lumee and baklava.
The first round of videos, which were filmed this week and will be released on social media in the coming days, focus on creative sweets.
'Alya combined the classic and comforting flavours of karak tea, a staple beverage in the region, with the nostalgic crunch of biscuits, creating a unique ice cream sandwich,' Shaikha Latifa added.
'It's a cool modern version of a traditional favourite.
'On another episode, Alya creates a Lumee Aswad sorbet, a refreshing and vibrant twist made with the infamous Lumee Aswad (dried black lime) which is a traditional key ingredient in Bahraini cuisine.
'Dona takes the iconic Arabic sweet Kunafa and presents it in a cup form, easier for sharing in the communal setting of Ramadan.
'She also prepared Baklava Cheesecake, adding a modern take to the classic baklava experience by combining creamy cheesecake filling with honeyed crunchy layers of baklava.'
According to the Art Station, the desserts represent 'stories passed down, reinterpreted, and shared with new generations, blending cultural heritage with modern culinary artistry'.
'Ramadan cooking is a practice cherished, ritualistic, and incredibly intimate to each household,' Chef Alya explained.
'After a long, fasted day of cooking, the final iftar spread is moulded by the individual tastes and delights of whoever will be at the table when you hear the Maghrib Athan (call for prayer and end of the fasting period).
'This unspoken, treasured consideration of every family member is, of course, shaped by their cultural and culinary backgrounds, and the contexts in which they exist.
'My own household is a touching example of this. One of the recipes I made is a Karak ice cream sandwich- made using my mother's own karak recipe, lovingly scrawled on the back of a receipt.
'My mother is English, and certainly did not grow up making and drinking karak, yet her recipe - using British Tetley tea bags - reflects her 40 years of living in the Gulf and decades of making karak for my Bahraini father every Ramadan.
'This is the recipe she passed to me - a child of mixed but quintessentially Bahraini heritage.
'The fusion of a classic recipe, steeped in the rich context of my household, is highlighted most delightfully during Ramadan, and the karak recipe I pass down to my children one day will be a reflection of the history and migration of my family and their story.'
While culinary arts have been appreciated as an art form around the world, the Art Station is the first creative space in Bahrain to feature a demonstration kitchen at their new premises in Suq Al Qaisariya.
The vision behind the new cooking show at the kitchen, during Ramadan and beyond, is to create an intimate and collaborative environment where emerging artists are showcased in formats tailored for TikTok and Instagram reels.
The team also hopes to highlight gluten-free and sugar-free creations at the kitchen, with Chef Dona whipping up variants on classic Ramadan dishes that can be enjoyed by all.
'Cooking, like art, is a form of expression that requires patience, precision, and passion,' Chef Dona explained.
'Creating gluten-free and sugar-free dishes is even more intricate, as it demands time to experiment and perfect each recipe. Just like an artist carefully layers colours on a canvas, I layer flavours and textures to ensure that each bite is both nourishing and delicious.
'Fasting, too, teaches patience and discipline, reminding us to slow down, appreciate the process, and be mindful of what we consume. Whether in art, cooking, or fasting, patience is the key to achieving something truly meaningful.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Tribune
5 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Al-Daylami Lauds Royal Encouragement Gesture
Bahraini theatre producer Ali Al-Daylami has expressed deep gratitude for the congratulatory message he received earlier from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, calling it a source of personal inspiration and national pride. Speaking from his New York base, Al-Daylami said the royal gesture served as a 'badge of pride' that fuels his drive to continue representing Bahrain on the world stage. 'This congratulation reflects the great support that Bahraini innovators enjoy and embodies the leadership's vision to empower national talent,' he told Al-Ayam in a new statement. Beyond the Award Al-Daylami said the Tony Award win for his Broadway musical 'Maybe a Happy Ending' was not just a personal achievement but a reflection of what Bahrainis can achieve when backed by community and leadership. 'I consider this honour an achievement for every Bahraini. It reminds us of our capacity to reach global heights through creativity and determination,' he said. He added that the support from Team Bahrain has been a continuous source of strength throughout his career.


Daily Tribune
a day ago
- Daily Tribune
Royal praise for Bahraini producer
His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, extended his heartfelt congratulations to Bahraini producer Ali Al-Daylami for winning a prestigious Tony Award at the 78th annual ceremony held in New York. HRH Prince Salman hailed the achievement as a historic milestone — the first of its kind for the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region. He noted that Al-Daylami's recognition on the international stage reflects the growing record of Bahraini accomplishments.


Daily Tribune
a day ago
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Showcases Cultural Power
TDT | Manama Bahrain's cultural voice is set to resonate on one of the world's most prestigious platforms as maestro Wahid Al Khan leads a team of Bahraini musicians in a live concert at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia. The forum, which merges global economic dialogue with high-level cultural showcases, will feature a performance by Al Khan and a group of professional Bahraini artists aiming to spotlight the Kingdom's musical identity and creative talent. Art meets influence Among the musicians joining Al Khan are Malallah Mohammed, Ali Al Amari, Rashid Al Amari, Hamad Ali, Mohammed Khalifa and Ali Reza Morsli. Together, they will represent Bahrain's traditional and modern music in front of an international audience of policy-makers, business leaders and cultural delegates. The inclusion of Bahrain in the cultural programme of the forum reflects growing international recognition of the Kingdom's artistic depth and soft-power potential. Cultural diplomacy Organisers said the performance aligns with ongoing efforts to promote Bahrain as a centre for cultural exchange and innovation. It also reinforces the Kingdom's strategy of engaging globally through creative expression alongside economic and political diplomacy. The event provides a rare opportunity for Bahraini musicians to share the stage with artists and thought leaders from across the world, helping to deepen understanding of the country's heritage and modern identity. Global spotlight The forum, known as Russia's counterpart to Davos, attracts thousands of participants each year. For Bahrain, this concert signals a cultural milestone - one that positions art not as a side act, but as a central force in shaping the Kingdom's international profile.