Kuwait’s fascination with food never fails to impress. Let’s face it, eating out in Kuwait isn’t simply about feeding a basic hunger, it is an established and practiced culture. We enjoy the food we eat, we like to get to know how to cook the food we eat, we even like to compete over whose meal is better. Enter Ahmad Al Hendi, who couldn’t agree more, as his food fascination borders on an addiction.
He is truly, a normal, down to earth, fun-and-food-loving guy. A guy’s guy, if you may. Even his online persona, also used on his personal blog, doesn’t convey more than ‘A7madany’, a common Kuwaiti nickname for all guys named Ahmad. His online space is strictly personal, “My blog is more like my diary, and I choose to write everything in it whenever and however I want. I do post quite randomly, yet mainly focus on the freedom in sharing cross-cultural ideas and debates. But with food, that’s a totally different obsession.”
For Al Hendi, his food addictions opened up many doors for him, from working in the field, to wanting to create something fun for the food loving people in K-town. He states, “Food is all around you, it’s simply something that you cannot avoid so I got addicted to it. Food is an art that distinguishes chefs and restaurants from one another. I believe that the food industry in Kuwait has reached an international level where we do compete with the world’s best food companies.”
Let us refresh your memory, remember Project X’s entertaining MC? Yup, that’s your A7madani. He doubled as an MC and co-organizer of the entire project, all with a smile on his face. He comments on the whole experience. “I’ve attempted to organize cooking competitions in Kuwait before. However, when it came to Project X, It truly was a first in Kuwait. It excites me still when I remember seeing the different cooks competing and cooking with flair and great talent. Project X also educated people about food and what really goes into cooking. The added touch of competing, the tension and constricting rules to cooking, made it all the more special!”
Besides food, Al Hendi enjoys a good banter, whether it is about politics, economics, arts – anything to enlighten and enliven the soul. “Self-fulfillment is always the greatest goal, and it is an independent choice that only you can work towards; enlightening and being enlightened by others is what I seek in life.”
How would your mother describe you in one word?
Darling.
How would you describe your mother in one word?
Mom.
What is the most insane question you’ve ever been asked?
Do you love reading?
What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?
Swimming at the beach in the middle of winter.
What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented?
Freedom.
Where would you like to live? What is your dream retirement location?
There’s no place like home (Kuwait).
What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind?
Mahatma Ghandi “Be the difference you want to see in the world”.
What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in?
A deer.
What do you miss about your childhood?
Being naughty and a trouble maker.
If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Abdullatif.
How would you describe your handshake in one word?
Respectful.
What is the toughest part of your character?
Doing whatever it takes to achieve my goal(s).
Who is your favorite historical figure?
Sheikh Abdulla Al Salem Al Sabah.
What in the world do you least desire?
Living a life without a goal or purpose.
What do you think is lacking in the world, which if there was more of, would make the world a better place?
A very strong and valuable educational system.
Why do you think most girls/guys like you?
For being myself and not trying to be somebody I’m not.
Finish this sentence: “Happiness is a thing called…”
Joy
For more on Ahmad Al Hendi, visit: a7madany.wordpress.com.
