May 25, 2023 · Team HG
On Saturday, May 13, the first edition of the Taste of Mena food festival took place on the Nieuwe Markt in Groningen. The festival is part of the new ten-day city program ‘MENA is here’, allowing Groningers to discover the rich traditions and cultures of the Mena region, stretching from the Middle East to North Africa.
On the Nieuwe Markt, people thoroughly enjoyed the most delicious Mena dishes from restaurants and caterers in Groningen. Visitors of all ages experienced a true taste sensation, undoubtedly discovering a number of new dishes. The packed terraces, the Mena DJs, and the beautiful spring sunshine made this very first Taste of Mena edition complete.
After all the delicious food, it was time for a traditional communal dance, during which visitors received instructions and a large circle of people formed in the middle of the Nieuwe Markt. The incredibly popular round dance ‘Dabke’ from countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine got many visitors dancing, and spectators visibly enjoyed this energetic dance, in which even the restaurateurs and chefs joined in.
The Mena version of the ‘Klaar af Kook’ cooking competition also took place in the tents on the festival grounds. During this competition, organized especially for Taste of Mena, participants cooked using a mix of Dutch and Mena ingredients. A new feature was that festival visitors could taste and vote for the various dishes prepared by the chefs. Independent chef Pascal du Pree was named the winner of Klaar af Kook Mena 2023.
Various free baking workshops were also held at Taste of Mena. At these well-attended workshops, you learned about cooking traditions, baking processes, and ingredients from the Mena region, and could bake cookies like Ma’amoul yourself under the enthusiastic guidance of the Mena ambassadors.
The festival organizers look back on a very successful first edition of Taste of Mena that certainly leaves us wanting more! The mix of traditions, food, cultures, and audience makes it a unique new event for Groningen.
