Icy, zesty and sweet. These were the flavours I picked up on one afternoon when trying barrad, a refreshing slushy ice cream and staple of Gaza street food culture that is now available to try in the UAE. I was at Cinema Akil in Dubai where its director, Khalid Al Sabi, was soft launching his concept at Quoz Arts Fest one weekend.
“I tried it, loved it and after a few months decided to go for it,” Al Sabi tells The National, explaining the inspiration behind bringing the authentic flavours of the drink to the UAE.
“I wanted to celebrate and preserve something authentically Palestinian, giving wider access to a part of our history.
“It’s exactly the same recipe. I’ve had people from Gaza verify it personally – some even cried, as if tasting a cherished memory. It means so much to people.”
Barrad, a lemon-flavoured slushy drink, is sold across Gaza and enjoyed on hot summer days, on the beach or at restaurants, alone or with a falafel sandwich. It’s been a staple of the enclave’s street food culture for decades, though its origins are unclear and disputed.
Since at least the 1950s, barrad has been a quintessential aspect of life in Gaza. With the strip known for its warm and humid summers, the barrad came from a need to provide a refreshing beverage, while in the process becoming an essential aspect of social life from north to south.
“The most famous place to get barrad is Kazem Ice Cream Cafe as well as a few others around Gaza,” Al Sabi explains, noting that stores like Kazem Ice Cream Cafe would usually source their barrad ingredients to street vendors and other shops around the enclave. Kazem Ice Cream Cafe recently reopened to joyous crowds after 15 months of war in the northern Gaza neighbourhood of Rimal.
Made from lemon, banana essence, sugar, water, crushed ice and what Al Sabi calls “a secret ingredient”, the entrepreneur was careful in his pursuit to bring the right taste of the slushy drink to customers in the UAE. “I worked with several people and vendors to source the right ingredients from abroad. It was crucial to be as authentic as possible because of how important this treat is for so many people,” he explains.
The drink comes in different variations – most offering more of a slushy consistency. All present the same neon yellow colour that the drink is famous for. Al Sabi’s version has more of an ice cream consistency to it, thick and creamy, but as rich and refreshing as promised.
“I introduced the concept in October at a small event in Dubai, with a few other pop-ups last year,” says Al Sabi. “Now we’re selling off-counter in Cinema Akil, and I’m hoping to sell off-counter at other locations soon.”
Pop-ups will continue across Dubai and beyond, and recently came to an event at 421 Arts Campus in Abu Dhabi last month. Al Sabi is expecting a very busy few months, continuing to sell his barrad at Alserkal Avenue throughout the month of Ramadan.
He has also just confirmed a collaboration with dessert shop Omar Odali in Dubai, and will be participating at the upcoming Bred Festival Abu Dhabi in April. In the future, he aims to open a full ice cream shop or permanent location and has plans to expand even further if all goes well, affirming that “the sky is the limit”.
“More so, I want people to buy barrad because they genuinely enjoy it, not just because it is from Gaza,” he says. “I have this very high sensitivity to commercialising suffering, which I want to avoid here. I’d like barrad to eventually become a top of mind Palestinian or Arabic sweet for its taste, and its taste alone.”
Alongside barrad, Al Sabi is pursuing a research project into the history of the chilled treat, including its origins, original vendors and archival images by hiring researchers on the ground in Gaza.
“There is very little documentation about barrad. You would even struggle trying to find a picture of Kazem Ice Cream Cafe from 50 years ago. That’s what I’m trying to find – it’ll be an ongoing programme,” he explains, as he aims to bring his project full circle from past to present.
Alongside barrad, he's also launching Dukkaneh, a website and ecosystem that brings together Palestinian businesses and vendors all in one place.
“This is something I’ve been working on for quite some time – a retail concept that will bring together brands, small business, SMEs, artists and artisans, selling everything from groceries and posters, to fashion and accessories, on one online platform,” he says.
All products on Dukkaneh will be made by Palestinians, as well as the broader diaspora, specifically from across the camps in Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.
“I want people to feel the impact of their work, to open new markets for Palestinians, and to create thriving channels to sustain and innovate,” he says.
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
RESULT
Liverpool 4 Southampton 0
Jota (2', 32')
Thiago (37')
Van Dijk (52')
Man of the match: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
List of alleged parties
- May 15 2020: Boris Johnson is said to have attended a Downing Street pizza party
- 27 Nov 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
- Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
- Dec 13 2020: Mr Johnson and his then-fiancee Carrie Symonds throw a flat party
- Dec 14 2020: Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative Party headquarters
- Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
- Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
