In a groundbreaking collaboration, celebrated chef and culinary curator Sameera Wadood is set to join forces at the upcoming Burning Crab Festival, running from 29 to 31 January 2025. Hailing from Chittagong, Wadood left a promising career in cybersecurity to pursue her passion for modern Bangladeshi cuisine. Known for her unique approach to fine dining, Wadood seeks to decolonize and elevate Bangladeshi ingredients, often integrating forgotten and foraged elements into innovative dishes.
She will craft a multi-course beachfront dining experience at the Burning Crab Festival, highlighting local and seasonal ingredients sourced from Bangladesh’s diverse regions. Her work with restaurants and culinary labs showcases her dedication to transforming the nation’s food narrative, making it a celebrated part of global culinary discourse.
The Burning Crab Festival, hosted at the scenic Mermaid Island in PecharDwip, is a three-day event celebrating the union of art, music, film, and culture along the Bangladeshi coastline. As the country’s first festival of its kind, it offers an immersive experience of dance, beachside art installations, and culinary innovation without the need to travel abroad.
The festival aims to inspire sustainable practices, using the beauty of the natural environment as both a setting and a canvas for artistic expression.
Writer: Samiha Alam Bristy
Video interview: Hossain Shetu
