Saudi Arabia’s culinary traditions are as rich and varied as the nation’s diverse landscapes, with each area offering a variety of ingredients and mouthwatering specialties. Indeed, these delectable hidden gems are simply waiting to be discovered. The latest initiative, the Saudi Feast Food Festival, wrapping up on December 29.
Saudi Feast Food Festival 2022 is one of the most prominent culinary events in the Kingdom and the Arab world in terms of idea, variety of sections, the comprehensiveness of the field, and a cultural style linked to the Saudi identity.
Visitors may sample products and cuisines from each region represented by a segment of the festival.
- Date and Palm Zone: a full immersive experience about dates and palm products.
- Exhibition Zone: 25+ exhibitors in the F&B sector.
- Children Zone: an area where children can prepare simple dishes/desert with local products and ingredients in an actual farm set up.
- Educational Zone: a zone where workshops and presentation around specific topics around culinary arts are held.
- Professional Zone: a zone dedicated to professional in the culinary arts sector where business opportunities and trends are shared.
- Marketplace and cookbooks store: a section where people can buy different local food products and cook books are sold and signed.
- Restaurants zone: over 200 restaurants celebrating our culinary legacy.
- Feast Zone: a unique experience with Michelin star chefs.
- Feast Stage: live stage where world cup live matches are broadcasted.
The Culinary Arts Authority works at promoting KSA’s distinctive and varied culinary legacy both locally and internationally. Through a series of initiatives and activities, the establishment highlights the distinctive culinary traditions of the kingdom and promotes it as a center for the culinary arts. Previous initiatives include two books titled “Saveurs de AlUla” and “Saveurs d’Arabie,” both available on Amazon, and Irth Matbakhna, an initiative that encourages Saudis to upload their family recipes, some of which are featured in a book that pays tribute to the kingdom’s culinary roots.
According to a statement by Mayada Badr, CEO of the Culinary Arts Authority: “Saudis have always been used to transmitting recipes orally. We need to codify and document all of the local recipes to preserve our rich culinary heritage. It is amazing to be a part of this cultural awakening in Saudi Arabia”.
About author
Rita Ghantous
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector. Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC). She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book. She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter. Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler. It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
