SHARJAH, UAE- Children at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026) got a taste of Japanese food culture as they learnt to prepare fruit sando, a popular Japanese sandwich, during an interactive workshop at the Creative Culinary District.
Led by workshop facilitator Amal Sabrawi, the ‘Japanese Sando’ workshop introduced children aged 7 to 10 to the ingredients and techniques used to prepare the sandwich, combining practical cooking skills with an opportunity to explore a different culinary tradition.
The workshop began with an introduction to Japanese sando and its ingredients, including sliced bread, fresh strawberries, vanilla and sugar. Sabrawi guided the children through each stage of preparation, from using a blender to mix the vanilla and sugar to slicing the bread, arranging the strawberries and assembling their sandwiches.
Rather than simply watching a cooking demonstration, participants took an active role in preparing their own creations, experimenting with different shapes and presentations.
Sabrawi explained that the workshop was designed to encourage children to explore their creativity rather than simply follow a recipe.
“The session is not just about giving participants the basic steps to make a delicious sando, but the true lesson happens when we step back and let them experiment with shapes and flavours,” she said, adding that the experience “proves that with just a little guidance, everyday materials can be transformed into something uniquely their own.”
Beyond learning how to make a sandwich, the activity introduced children to Japanese culinary traditions, showing how familiar ingredients can be combined and presented in different ways across cultures.
The workshop also equipped young participants with a simple recipe they could recreate at home, encouraging them to experiment with ingredients and develop confidence in the kitchen.
Part of SIBF 2026’s programme of interactive children’s activities, the Japanese Sando workshop demonstrated how cooking can offer young learners an engaging way to discover new cultures, develop practical skills and express their creativity.
