The MIA Gastronomy Collection

What do Beethoven’s grocery lists, medieval farming manuals, and 18th-century dessert sculptures have in common? They are all part of the MIA Gastronomy Collection.

Founded by Orazio Bagnasco as the Bibliothèque Internationale de Gastronomie (B.IN.G.), the collection was acquired and generously donated to Qatar Museums in 2017 by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Since then, it has been enriched with new references and featured in exhibitions like A Seat at the Table: Food & Feasting in the Islamic World.

The collection boasts nearly 5,000 manuscripts, books, and printed works in a multitude of languages, including Latin, Italian, French, German, English, Spanish, and more.

References span over a millennium, with the earliest manuscript from the 11th century. From household management and nutrition to agriculture, industry, and feasting, the collection traces the cultural history of eating.

Research & Access

The collection is organised into various sections accessible both in-person and online. Each of the themes links to a dedicated LibGuide or resource hub. Themes include:

• Food in the Islamic World – Content from The Sultan's Feast.
• Complements: A Dialogue Between Islamic Heritage and Contemporary Taste.

• Fathers of French Cuisine – Meet Carême, Escoffier, and others who defined modern gastronomy.
• Past Exhibitions – Explore highlights like A Seat at the Table.

Engage & Discover

• Recipe of the Month: A digitised recipe from the collection + modern interpretation.

Interested in exploring the collection? You can browse MIA’s online catalogue below and search “Gastronomy Collection” as a location.

We are happy to offer in-person consultations. To schedule one, email us at sleavy@qm.org.qa