I first came across the amazing Dubai food blog, Sips and Spoonsfuls, about a year ago. Sukaina’s photographs are simply stunning — it’s no surprise she works as a freelance photographer — but it’s her stories about her family that draw you in, making you feel like you’re reading a letter from an old friend. So I was thrilled to recently interview Sukaina to learn more about her passion for food, her family life and her photography.
Sukaina, where did your passion for food come from?
My passion for food developed very late in life! Before the age of 18, I hadn’t even chopped an onion let alone boiled an egg. Although I was always interested in eating good food, besides baking, I had absolutely no interest in cooking whatsoever. I led a very sheltered/easy life where we had a cook and between her and my mom, there was always impeccably home cooked food ready on the table. Once I left my parents home, I spent many years living and eating as a student on canned foods and takeaways. I led a busy life and with just myself to feed, ease took over quality. Once I left work and had children though, I came onto my own in the kitchen. I loved to experiment, trying new ingredients, aiming to make food not only taste great but look beautiful as well. I made everything from scratch since I had so much time and enjoyed the process immensely. It made me feel so relieved and at ease knowing exactly what was in the food I was eating especially with two young ones to feed.
Who or what are your greatest influences?
As cliched as it may sound, it has been the women in my life! I take a lot of recipes passed on to me by my mom or mother in law but like to add my own stamp on them or a non traditional twist. For example, I took an authentic tiramisu recipe and added date syrup to the mascarpone as well as cardamom coffee to give it a Middle Eastern touch. I’d say my food and recipes are greatly influenced by my life as an expat, my travels as well as my African upbringing. I like to experiment and I feel by trying unusual or new dishes/ ingredients really refines your palate. I am also influenced by the foods I see in gorgeous magazines such as Australia’s Gourmet Traveller and Donna Hay.
Your blog showcases your incredible food photography and styling. How would you describe your style and how has it changed over time?
Why thank you! Just like my food, I’d say my photography is eclectic too. And constantly evolving. When I first started out, I tried to emulate photographers whose work I really admired. I studied their photos, where the light was coming from, their way of styling and so on. Now, I feel a bit more confident of my own work and feel like I’m really developing my own style. I love shadows (which I absolutely loathed before!) and feel they add so much drama to an image. I love mixing beautiful ceramics with vintage bits and pieces which have their patina showing through. However, ask me again in a few months and I’ll give you a completely different answer!
I love the personal stories you interweave within your recipe posts. Is there a particular post that is closest to your heart?
Because all the stories are so personal, they are all close to my heart. The blog is my journal where I write down things I may not remember in a few years time like what my children’s first words were, the funny things they say out of the blue, their first day in school, their first meals, their first holiday, their first fast in Ramadan, when they learn something new or even when family visits.
You recently prepared a feast for 20 people to celebrate Eid. What did you cook? Can you describe the celebrations for us?
Eid is a special time for us, the equivalent of Christmas for Christians. Usually, we have a grand feast at the house of the oldest member in the family. So each year, we go to my mother in law’s house. However, this year we decided to give her a break and I took over the kitchen to prepare dishes that are very typical of Eid. Preparation usually starts the day before as there is so much cooking to do. We usually buy new clothes for the children to wear and on Eid night, decorate our hands with elaborate ‘mehndi’ designs. The actual day starts with a large breakfast since we have been deprived of that all month! Ours wasn’t very traditional- we had an English fry up! Fried eggs, maple turkey bacon, baked beans and toast. We then visit all our relatives to wish them, handing all the young children packed money envelopes. It is very common to get money on Eid as a present as opposed to typical wrapped gifts. Lunch this year consisted of brown butter vermicelli scented with cardamom and rose water. I had prepared gulab jamuns the night before. These are sweet doughnut like dumplings soaked in a saffron sugar syrup and by soaking overnight, every inch was drenched with syrup – just the way we like it!. We snacked on fenugreek kebabs double fried in eggs and for mains, we had had lamb kofta biryani with saffron rice. Everything is very elaborate and regal. By the end of the meal, we are ready to sleep all afternoon!
For someone new to Sips and Spoonfuls, which posts would you recommend and why?
If you haven’t visited my blog before, I suggest you start off by cooking this chicken schnitzel sandwich followed by strawberry cheesecake for dessert. These are the kinds of foods you’d find us eating on any given day of the week. Then this post about luscious chocolate crepes whose recipe my 4 year old helped develop will give you an idea about my family and what we get up to on a normal weekday. Lastly, one of my favourite comfort foods, Shepherd’s Pie, can be found here.
Can you describe your perfect weekend for us?
Ideally, the perfect weekend would begin with sleeping in but with two sprightly children, that never happens. Saturday is the only day where we have time for a leisurely breakfast. Maryam (her daughter) helps to prepare by cracking eggs for pancakes and whisking. We spend the morning in our pyjamas eating slowly and breakfast usually spills into lunch as well. Afternoons are spent on the beach in winter time or playing in the sand pit and trampoline in our garden. If it’s too warm as is the case now, some form of baking is involved as Maryam prefers playing with flour, butter and eggs over toys any day! And if we’re not baking, I’ll have all my food magazines sprawled over the carpet choosing what to make next whilst the kids are building a lego tower next to me.
All of the above images are by Sukaina. Check out more of her amazing work at Sips and Spoonfuls.
