Festival’s conclusion: A tale of two countries’ foods

British high commissioner hosts closing ceremony of two-day food festival.

ISLAMABAD: What is the favourite dish in Britain?

This mind-boggling question figured in a quiz at the closing ceremony of the British Food Festival 2015 at a reception hosted by the country’s high commissioner on Saturday night.

If you answered the usual suspects — All British Breakfast or Fish and Chips — then you lost a chance to win an air ticket to the UK. To the surprise of many, the correct answer was curry.

“This is a reflection of the way in which the food of South Asia not only leads through the people of Pakistani origin, based in the UK, but has also become very much the food in Britain now. If you stopped somebody on the street and asked them, ‘what’s your favourite dish?’  They’re just as likely to say, chicken tikka masala, just like they would if you stopped someone here in Islamabad,” said British High Commissioner Phillip Barton.



Earlier, in his augural address, Barton welcomed guests to what is normally his garden. “I’m very conscious as we gather this evening that we do so a day after the one-month anniversary of the Peshawar attack. I do think it’s important to remember the attack and remember all those who are bereaved and we acknowledge the bravery of the children who have gone back to school this week”

UK stands should-to-shoulder with Pakistan in tackling terrorism, he said, adding that in times of adversity, it is important to remember things that unite us rather than those that divide us.

The week-long festival was organised by the high commission in collaboration with Marriott Group of Hotels in Islamabad and Karachi.

Food lovers from different walks of life attended the event to witness live demonstrations and enjoy delectable British cuisine, complemented by some fine music.

Christopher Ireland, executive head chef at the Marriott Leeds, UK had flown in to supervise teams at both hotels for the festival. “It’s been absolutely fantastic to be here. I’ve had great feedback from all the guests who have come to visit us and see what we’ve been doing. The teams within the hotels have been really welcoming and they’ve embraced what we’ve been trying to do,” he said.

“It is surprising how similar some dishes are rather than how far apart we are. A lot of the dishes I’ve seen the guys cooking for big banquets in both the hotels is about cooking with lots of attention and love. Perhaps food is a lot spicier in Pakistan than what we have in the UK but a few dishes are quite similar,” he added.

During the festival, British musicians Simon Thacker and Sarvar Sabri entertained audience with a fusion of western and eastern classical music. The duo has performed extensively at the UK’s prestigious venues and festivals, including the Cheltenham Music Festival and Glasgow Jazz Festival.

Speaking at the event, Marriott Hotel Islamabad General Manager Hartmut Noack said his team was thrilled to be collaborating with the British High Commission for the festival. “We are excited to have offered our local and international community a chance to truly experience this culinary event and celebrate the diversity of British cuisine,” he added.

Guests waited in queues next to the buffet and the live cooking stations before they could roll up their sleeves and tuck into some of Britain fine dishes and classic desserts.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2015.