Pakistan Heritage Cuisine: Best Asian Cookbook in the World

Pakistan Heritage Cuisine was the only cookbook nominated from Pakistan and that too for two categories i.e. ‘Asian – Published in Asia’ and ‘Culinary Heritage’ for this year’s Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. It has received the title ‘Best Asian Cookbook in the World’They were held on 27thMay in Yantai, China. The book competed with entries from Hong Kong, Israel, Malaysia, USA and others.

Gourmand World Cookbook Awards was initiated in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau. The objective was to highlight the best cookbooks in food and wine, and this year 215 countries participated. It is truly the most prestigious competition and one of its kind in this sector. It is has had a very positive impact overall and has helped create awareness of many small countries and their cuisines, while providing the winning authors with worldwide recognition. It is completely free and all languages are allowed to enter.

Pakistan Heritage Cuisine: A Cookbook With a Difference

 “I decided to document Pakistan through a book depicting its rich heritage and culture to highlight the flavors and taste that keep us in unison…”  – Sayeeda Leghari

Sayeeda Leghari is an entrepreneur with a vast experience in different business sectors. She is also interested in community advancement which is why she has taken under her wing five Government schools in Karachi and two in Sukkur. However as a writer she has made her debut with Pakistan Heritage Cuisine. The book was launched on 15thNovember, 2017 at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture under the label of Markings Publishing.

Her inspiration came from her love for food and the pride she has in her culinary heritage, which compelled her to showcase to the world; Pakistan’s gastronomical diversity. And also due to the fact that the food industry is one of largest and progressive in the world today.

She traveled all over the country, sampling dishes at different food outlets, and was really impressed to see that it was the pioneer vendors who lovingly and authentically prepared the dishes and served them with pride.

A 300 paged bookwhich is visually alluring, contains taste-bud tingling recipes; yet it is the delving into the origins of how these recipes came into being which is really fascinating and very informative. The team responsible for putting it together is:

Food Expert: Ali Yousuf (late)

Photogrpaghy: Amna Zuberi, Izdeyar Stena, Kohi Marri and Mobeen Ansari

Book Layout & Design: Amber Arshad, Samia Fatima & Tuba Arshad

Commenteries: Fatima Surriya Bajia (late), Khawar Butt, Hussain Haroon and Marjorie Hussain.

It is available at Liberty Books or online at www.kitabain.com. Priced at Rs. 5,000, all profits from the book sales will be gifted to the Child Aid Association, Pakistan.

Markings Publishing

It is an independent publishing house which was founded by Kiran Aman in 2010. It is also involved in production and has an online portal in alliance with Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP). The objective is to provide people with a platform where they express themselves through any means of communication.

They have won the Gourmand Award twice before; in 2014 with ‘Deliciously Yours’ by Lal Majid and in 2015 Zaiqay Frontier Kay – Dera Ismail Khan Kay Bhulay Basray Pakwan’.