Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Taste of the World, Riyadh welcomed a stunning line-up of chefs and restaurants for its opening night at Digital City, delighting Riyadh’s cosmopolitan citizens.

Commissioned by the General Entertainment Authority, this bespoke edition of the festival, created especially for the Riyadh Season, features 14 of the world’s best restaurants from around the globe, boasting an impressive combined 13 Michelin stars.

Each of the 14 restaurants features a menu of three dishes, served in taster-size portions — two of each restaurant’s signature dishes, as well as a Saudi-inspired dish that the chef has exclusively designed for the showcase event.

As well as the restaurant line-up, the festival was buzzing with activity at the Fire Pit, where local star chefs Areej Al Sharif, Abdelelah Bin Jarid and Fahad Bokhari led cooking demonstrations and tasting sessions alongside international chef Simon Rogan. The Fire Pit was hosted by Saudi culinary star and presenter, Rakan Al Orafi. At the Music Stage guests enjoyed a jam-packed schedule of live music, while sipping on mocktails from the Taste Mocktail Lounges.

Visitors looking for a more exclusive experience were delighted in the Taste Residence — a unique private 4-course dining experience with two-Michelin starred chef James Knappett from London’s Kitchen Table. This special experience is hosted by MBC’s Top Chef star Ammar Albarakati.

Multi-award-winning chef Shane Osborn, from two Michelin-starred restaurant Arcane in Hong Kong, expressed his excitement being in Riyadh and said: “My wife lived in Riyadh in the late 80s and she has always talked fondly of it. I’ve met incredible people at the local restaurants and souks — everyone is really keen for us to try their ingredients, and they’re proud to show us their country. It’s really a pleasure to be a part of this experience. I especially love the architecture — it’s just so different to everything I’ve ever seen.”

Taste of the World, Riyadh is running until Saturday, Nov. 2 at Digital City. Food lovers in not just Riyadh but across the Kingdom are invited to come celebrate with friends and family over exceptional creations. Tickets to Taste of the World, Riyadh are available online at https://www.ticketmx.com and on the gate. More information about the event can be found at www.tasteoftheworldriyadh.com and on Facebook and Instagram.