Saudi Gazette A delicious meal is not only food which you eat, it is also memorable for its taste lingers in your tounge for a long time, and the mere thought of it makes your mouth water. A delectable meal shared in the company of family and friends is icing on the cake, and it also reminds us of the many blessings of Allah. So, how does a scrumptious meal get to your plate? Well, it takes a skilled chef to create such a meal that will stimulate not only your emotions but your palate as well. Saeed Hassanein is a senior chef who works wonders in the master kitchen of Raffles Palace Hotel in Makkah. He competed with other internationally acclaimed chefs to vie for the title of “Best Chef of the Year”. The competition was organized by Unilever Food Solutions in Middle Eastern and North African regions, where chefs and caterers from all over the world showcased their best culinary techniques. The food was tasted, marked, and judged by a panel of well known and highly experienced international chefs. The splendid awards distribution ceremony was held in the last week of December in Durban, South Africa. Through his talent, exquisite taste, beautiful presentation and innovative inventions Hassanein came second in the “Best Chef of the Year” awards. “I am glad to receive this award and I would like to thank my family at Raffles Makkah Palace for their endless support in the contest. Cooking is my passion and when it comes to ingredients and menus, I tend to blend together international techniques with the local flavors to craft the finest and most sumptuous needs. Using fresh, natural and healthy ingredients is a must and a good chef always tries to adjust the tastes to the needs and requests of his guests. I consider it an honor and pleasure to be serving pilgrims and the guests of the House of Allah here in Makkah,” said the proud Hassanein. __
