RIYADH: A weeklong Riyadh Food Festival that opens on Friday is set to offer a variety of culinary delight to the visitors. Organized under the patronage of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), the participating starred hotels have announced a series of events including cooking demonstrations, gastronomic presentation, food seminars to huge carnival-like cultural experience specific to particular countries. Abdulrahman Al-Jassas, SCTA Director General for Riyadh Provincial Tourism Office, said each participating hotel has been asked to take up a special theme that highlights the country's food and culture. He said the idea behind the first-ever festival of its kind here is to offer a unique experience to the visitors during the holiday season that starts Friday. He said the visitors coming to stay in hotels in the capital should have an extraordinary experience. Some prominent personalities in Riyadh such as Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy, President of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), will visit city's hotels along with SCTA officials. Celebrity artist Fayez Al-Maliki will be present at Hotel Holiday Inn as part of the festival's celebrations. A group of celebrities, players and representatives of organizations will participate in the promotion of the festival. Hotel Al-Khozama has taken up ‘Indonesia' as a theme during the festival. “We are ready to welcome our guests and visitors with a seven-day Indonesian festival celebrating the cuisine and culture of the country,” said Peter Finamore, Managing Director of the hotel. Regular guests to Windrose Restaurant will not recognize their surroundings as the restaurant is to be fully transformed into a real Indonesian locale featuring traditional music and decorations like traditional uniforms and Gapura, Payun Susun and Indonesian umbrellas. Dance and Indonesian instrumental music will welcome the guests during the Friday Brunch. “Guests will be able to experience different modern and traditional dances as Tari Rumingkang from West Java performed by five dancers on energetic beats and Kuda Lumping performed by six dancers riding horses,” said Finamore. Riyadh Marriott is offering live cooking demonstration of seafood and sashimi, a Japanese fish dish will be prepared in front of the visitors. Hotel Sheraton will host a workshop to teach the art of Italian cooking, while Riyadh Intercontinental announced a presentation on hospitality of Spanish hotel industry. The French food experience will be offered at Hotel Novotel. The visitors to Holiday Inn can enjoy the Lebanese food and related events highlighting Moroccan cuisine. Hilton Garden Inn said that it will tempt taste buds with a mixture of culinary preparations for the visitors. Hotel Four Seasons will present a visual display of Asian heritage by earmarking a space in the hotel. Hotel Riyadh Palace has decided to take up an Indian theme by organizing food dishes and a photo exhibition on India's heritage by K.N. Wasif, a renowned photographer. Hotel Holiday Izdehar said it will offer rich culinary experience based on Indonesian food.
