April issue 2010

Already the owner of a culinary school, an award-winning restaurant by the name of Coriander Leaf, and a unique Screening Room, where “food marries film,” Samia Ahad finally launched her first cookbook called Simply Samia, on March 29, at The Second Floor. The book promotes light cooking — a style that is simple, well-presented and packed with flavour. The easily prepared menus feature different cuisines, such as Mediterranean, Lebanese, Indian, Pakistani, Singaporean, Thai and Vietnamese. Usually categorised as fusion cooking, Samia renames it as a “new Asian style” — Asian food with a modern twist. Not just targeting the modern woman who has very little time to spend in the kitchen planning fancy dinner menus, this book can also be beneficial for students living away from home, who enjoy fast and flavourful cooking, she explains. Samia is also planning to start a cooking show, which will target students leaving home for the first time and who haven’t the first clue how to serve themselves a meal.