Arabian Comfort Food
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Nigella Lawson will soon teach Adele how to cook – a present from one of Adele’s ‘We [maids] are the real moral compass of the show. We’re not patsies. We don’t close friends. ‘One of her close circle thought to give her the Nigella present this get walked over. We’re running it. So it’s a really wonderful perspective’ – the food Christmas because she’s become so keen on cooking,’ reported the Daily Star tv actress Ana Ortiz of Devious Maids Arabian comfort food Devilishly For many Arab students in the Indian city of Bangalore, funny way Mahajabeen Sheikh’s house is the place to go for a taste of to dish home. Priti Salian finds out more Every afternoon, the doorbell starts the dirt ringing at 1pm at Umm Omar’s Ka- manahalli residence in Bangalore. Noisy young men barge in, only In Devious Maids, the creator of Desperate and downright devilish as they are. Above, from left, Judy Reyes, Edy tour, a wealthy divorcee and fizzy to be greeted with a smile and the Housewives turns the upstairs-downstairs “It’s Desperate Housewives meets Ganem, Dania Ramirez and Roselyn socialite who has danced in the words “kaif halak?” class warfare of Beverly Hills into Upstairs Downstairs,” says Ortiz, Sanchez in Devious Maids. Eva lap of luxury all her life. She’s also The question comes from the who portrays the newcomer Mari- Longoria, below, says stories about a hopeless romantic searching for 52-year-old Mahajabeen Sheikh, af- dirt-slinging fun, writes Greg Kennedy sol, who bonds the other four Latina maids, told from their point true love – and her next husband. of view, need an outlet. ABC Studios; My fectionately known as Umm Omar maids. “I’m definitely a devious Dan Hallman / Invision / AP Photo On the political-correctness front, by the boys who make a beeline When you pay someone to pick maid because I’m not a maid; I’m one might well wonder whether it’s imme for her home for a taste of Arabian up your dirt – beware – you may sort of undercover as a maid. I’m perpetuating a stereotype to ask diate food. Sheikh, who runs her cater- find yourself horrified at just how trying to right a wrong that has accomplished American-Latina response ing business Zawaqa, is quite a much of the incriminating kind been done to my family. It’s a little actresses to portray maids. celebrity in the city’s Kamanahalli they dig up. bit like Revenge.” “I resisted when I first heard when area, which is home to a large num- It soon becomes abundantly clear In the course of 13 episodes, ex- about this show,” says Judy Reyes, we get ber of Arab students who choose in Devious Maids – the new comedy- pect this close-knit crew of maids who plays Delatour’s long-serving Bangalore for higher studies. drama with a twist of murder- to tidy up illicit affairs and lay bare senior maid, Zoila. “My first in- backlash Sheikh grew up in Bangalore, mystery from the Desperate deep, dark secrets as they seek the stinctual reaction was, ‘Why does is this: but lived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Mahajabeen Sheikh serves Arabian food to about 60 students a day in her home in Bangalore. Subhash Sharma for The National Housewives creator Marc Cherry – details behind the murder of a fel- the first show about Latinas have so you’re for 26 years with her husband and that whoever holds the dirt holds low maid, Flora (Paula Garcés). The to be about maids?’ two children. She returned to In- the power. Helping Cherry as a co- dastardly deed happens at the home “Then I read the script and I in- telling dia three years ago, all the while hummus, fattoush and basbousa Rahman, a 25-year-old from Jed- executive-producer is Eva Longoria, of her employers, Evelyn and Adrian stinctively reacted positively. It me those searching for a connection with the that Sheikh serves. dah. “There are many institutes • According to India’s who found stardom in his first Powell (Rebecca Wisocky and Tom made me laugh. I thought it was stories Middle East. “My kitchen is open all day,” in Saudi Arabia that offer spoken ministry of human series. Irwin), at one of the largest society well-written. I was intrigued … She found it in four students who Sheikh explains. “Lunch is done English classes, but once out of the resource development, “People within the Latino com- events of the year. and my mum was a housekeep- aren’t were looking to satisfy their taste by 5pm and prep for dinner starts Umm class, everyone reverts to speaking the number of foreign munity have had their lives touched Apparently, dirt-slinging er and a nanny for many years. I worth buds with traditional Arabian food. by 6.30pm.” During Ramadan, she Omar Arabic,” adds Rahman. students enrolled in by nannies, housekeepers, garden- is a growth industry. While understood that relationship.” Sheikh was more than happy to begins preparing suhoor by mid- Bangalore, Mysore, Pune and Indian universities in ers, valets – whatever occupations a series typically sees audi- In defending her show, Lon- telling? cook for them for a small payment. night because “a lot of boys like to serves Hyderabad have a cosmopoli- 2012 was 76,753, of we have occupied as Latinos – it’s ence numbers soften after goria adds: “Most of the Lati- Eva Longoria Thanks to word of mouth, the num- come and collect their morning her food tan appeal and students of which 76 were from the a reality,” says Longoria, “so why the pilot is broadcast, Devi- na community is proud that co-executive ber of her customers has increased meal by 2am”. several Arab nationalities flock to UAE, compared with 17 not tell their story and their point ous Maids not only swept there’s a show employing producer of and today she serves no less than The students, mostly male, seem with so colle ges in these cities, where in 2011. of view? I commend and applaud up 1.99 million viewers dynamic Latinas. They’re the Devious Maids 60 students on an ordinary day. to rely on Sheikh for more than just much English is the preferred medium Marc Cherry for doing that. He’s not upon its US premiere on leads of a show – they’re not That number doubles during Ram- food. She lends them an ear when- affection of conversation. • Fully funded Latino – and he has no obligation to the Lifetime network last the guest star, not the co-star, adan – for iftar and suhoor. ever they need, is their counsellor “With better linguistic skills, our scholarships for do it. And he is one of the greatest June, but thanks to word of not sub-characters. And they “Umm Omar serves her food with and mentor – and sometimes even that it chances of bagging a good job back foreign students are run show-runners of the past decade.” mouth, went on to clean up are playing maids, which is a so much affection that it reminds a mediator between them and reminds home are greater,” adds Yaseen by the Indian ministry Five of US’s most recognisable with three million viewers for realistic reflection of our so- me of my mother,” says Saeed their parents. Sayeed, a 20-year-old from Aden, of external affairs American-Latina actresses – Ana its season finale. Lifetime has ciety today in America. Salm, 20, from Hadhramaut, Yem- Most of the students who eat at me of my Yemen. “One reason why India is through the Indian Ortiz (Ugly Betty), Dania Ramirez already given the green light for “My immediate response Arab students in India Arab en. Majad Hassan, 18, also from Sheikh’s are in India primarily to mother chosen over western countries like Council for Cultural (Entourage), Roselyn Sánchez (With- a second season of 13 episodes. when we get backlash is this: so Yemen, agrees. “The best thing learn English for a year. Once there the US and the UK is for the quality Relations (ICCR). out a Trace), Edy Ganem (Livin’ Loud) Also on board and deliciously you’re telling me those stories Saeed Salm about the food is the hygiene and and familiar with the country, student of education and affordable fees,” and Judy Reyes (Scrubs) – create cast is Susan Lucci, the daytime aren’t worth telling? That these the touch of home.” some decided to enrol in university says Mohemmed Hashim Matori, • With 21 scholarship the ensemble cast who portray five soap queen who held audiences people are lesser-thans? That their At 2,800 rupees (Dh165) a month courses. who came to Bangalore from Abu schemes, the ICCR maids on fire with ambition as they spellbound for 41 years as the stories aren’t worth exploring … for one meal a day and 4,500 ru- “In Saudi Arabia, most govern- Dhabi in 2012 to pursue a bach- attracts 2,325 foreign clean up after the rich and famous. sassy, stunning woman we love because they’re a maid? That’s what pees (Dh265) a month for two ment schools start teaching Eng- elor’s degree in business manage- students every year. But in less time than it takes to fire to hate, Erica Kane, on All My angers me.” meals a day, it doesn’t hurt their lish from grade 6,” explains Am- ment. “My Indian degree is sure to More than 150 slots up a steam mop, murder and may- Children.