Philippines’ new kitchen diplomacy
dubai —The Philippines i strengthening its ties with the UAE and this time around, they want the bonding to happen in the kitchen.
To promote their cuisine among Emiratis and other UAE residents, the Philippine Consulate recently donated Filipino cookbooks to the Dubai Public Library, consul-general Paul Raymund Cortes said.
“The distribution of cookbooks showcasing Filipino cuisine is part of our efforts to further bring together the UAE and the Filipino expat community,” Cortes said. “I hope this will spur interest in Philippine cuisine among the locals, since we are one of the largest expat groups in the country.”
Over 610,000 Filipinos reside in the UAE, with 415,000 living in Dubai and the northern emirates. “The cookbooks were written in English, specifically for the Middle East, and all the featured food is halal,” Cortes added.
Fahad Almamari, director of the Dubai Public Library System, received the donated books at a small ceremony held at the Dubai Public Library in Al Qusais on Sunday. angel@khaleejtimes.com