Cooking and cooks in Tarim are art, taste, brotherhood, and love.

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

Hadramout ((Arabian Sea)) Hassan Al-Kaff: The city of Tarim is distinguished by several arts, but my talk this time will be a brief overview of one of the Hadrami heritage arts: the art of cooking and the cooks in Tarim, which is distinguished from other Hadrami cuisines. The Hadrami table, especially the Tarimi table, has been influenced by the introduction of multiple dishes from East Asia as a result of immigration to East Asian countries and intermarriage with those peoples. However, the authenticity of the Hadrami Tarimi cuisine has remained as it is, preserving its authenticity, and what has been added are beautiful additions. Tarim is considered at the forefront of Hadrami cuisine, and this is what many who have seen and tasted the Tarimi table and its arts have said. Cooking in Tarim has deep-rooted history, as the city is historical and has a diverse and rich cultural heritage. The city is famous for a number of distinguished cooking houses that have been cooking banquets at weddings and various events for decades. Also, cooking in Tarim has wonderful rituals, where many gather at the homes of those getting married, and cooking takes place under the houses where the event is held. Sheep are slaughtered, the "Iqal" (headband) is present, and complete warm joy prevails for everyone, young and old. Good wishes and good intentions are present, unlike today, when circumstances have changed and the dish comes to the wedding and event ready-made. Tarim is famous for the excellence of many cooks and their mastery of the art of cooking, and their fame has extended to different cities and regions. More than a decade ago, a picture was taken with a number of cooks in the city of Tarim, most of whom meet on a daily basis in a cafe in the city and talk to each other, exchange advice, and discuss any new developments in the world of cooking and the difficulties they face. This has created a brotherhood of loving people who exchange smiles and beautiful conversations. They told me that any event for one of the cooks, whether a wedding or another occasion, all the cooks come and do all the wedding cooking in cooperation with their fellow cook. Herein lies the spirit of brotherhood and sincere love, and cooperation between them has continued, and their motto is: "I'm there for you today, and you'll be there for me tomorrow." In this picture, some cooks were absent due to circumstances beyond their control, and some are housebound. As is clear in the picture, there are a number of cooks whose names have remained, and their children are inheriting this wonderful artistic profession. Reviewing those in the picture, we find on the right of the picture the cook Saleh Hood Basalma, may God have mercy on him, followed by the cook Saeed Awad Bureik, may God grant him a long life, and then Salem Karama Bamqishm Abu Karama, may God have mercy on him, and to his right Awad Barajib, may God protect him, followed by the humble writer of these lines, followed by the cook Karama Obaid Bakhamis, may God protect him, followed by the cook Saleh Obaid Bahreesh, may God have mercy on him. For our part, we emphasize the continuation of cooperation, harmony, love, and brotherhood among all. The Tarimi cuisine will remain at the forefront as we have known it, and we pray for the souls of those we have lost from the cooks, asking God to have mercy on them and grant them all Paradise. We implore God to prolong the lives of those who remain and to benefit from their long accumulated experience in the world of cooking and the Hadrami Tarimi cuisine. May God protect our country and all our Muslim countries, for You are the Hearer, the Answerer...