Al KHOBAR — Michelin starchef and patron of Movenpick Hotel Al Khobar's renowned Maharaja restaurant, chef Vineet Bahatia, will be visiting Al Khobar from Feb. 27 through March 8. During this time, he will entice hotel guests and visitors alike with a delectable array of lamb curry recipes from various Indian provinces, which have been influenced by the many civilizations that crossed them in the past, from the Portuguese and Persians, to Moguls and of course Arab spice traders. Trade links between the Indian subcontinent and the Arab world have a long history, starting with the legendary Indus Valley civilization. As Arab traders brought spices and settled along the Malabar Coast, they influenced local food preparation. This led to the iconic Malabari lamb dish that combined the coastal availability of coconut with the spices of cinnamon and cloves brought in by the traders. Subsequently, Arabic influence also spread to the coastal regions of Gujarat and Konkan, and all the way up to the Kashmir Valley. — SG
