RIYADH: The Embassy of Italy in Riyadh marked the fifth edition of the World Week of Italian Cuisine by hosting an online roundtable discussion of the cultural value of food and culinary traditions.
The event, held on Dec. 9 in collaboration with the Future Food Institute, was titled “Saudi Arabia and Italy: A Journey Between Food and Culture.” The participants included Italian and Saudi experts and professionals who talked about innovative ways in which people can be encouraged to rediscover and express their cultural heritage and identity, promote healthy diets and lifestyles, and protect and develop the agricultural and food sectors.
There was also a special focus on the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization adding the Mediterranean diet to its list of intangible world cultural heritage. An excellent example of the cultural value of food and culinary traditions, the Mediterranean diet encompasses more than simply certain foods or ingredients — it also includes a wide range of skills, knowledge, practices and traditions, from respect for the land and biodiversity to the way the food is produced, consumed and shared at the table.
The event was opened by Roberto Cantone, Italy’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and chaired by Sara Roversi, the president and founder of the Future Food Institute.
“The Italian Cuisine Week allows us to showcase Italian cuisine worldwide,” said Cantone. “But it also offers the incredible opportunity to engage in a wide-ranging conversation about food, to discuss what we eat and how we eat it, the way we produce and consume food and how it impacts our well being, our communities, our economies and our planet.
“These issues are at the center of the international agenda and Italy plays an active role in promoting and raising awareness about them — including within the framework of our G20 Presidency, which we took over from Saudi Arabia on Dec. 1.”
Roversi said: “Future Food Institute is proud to cooperate with the Italian Embassy in Riyadh to bring Italian best practices and innovative business cases, as well as to promote our common cultural heritage.
“We strongly believe that public and private cooperation, combined with a multilateral approach, can make the difference in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of (the UN’s) Agenda 2030 and building thriving global societies. Indeed ‘People, Planet, Prosperity’ (the three stated priorities of the Italian presidency of the G20) have been the epicenter of our dialogues.
“This roundtable represents a crucial bridge for partnership development and cultural exchange between Italy and Saudi Arabia.”
The main speakers at the event included Mayada Badr, CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission at the Saudi Ministry of Culture; Elisabetta Moro, professor of cultural anthropology at the Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples and co-director of the Virtual Museum of the Mediterranean Diet; and Cesare Mazzetti, president of Fondazione Qualivita, which promotes and protects the uniqueness of food products.
DiplomaticQuarter: Italian embassy in Riyadh marks fifth World Week of Italian Cuisine
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DiplomaticQuarter: Italian embassy in Riyadh marks fifth World Week of Italian Cuisine
Ithra celebrates Founding Day with family-friendly Ramadan festivities
DHAHRAN: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, known as Ithra, is celebrating Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day as part of a multi-night Ramadan cultural experience from Feb. 20-22.
As it has done annually since the launch of Founding Day in 2022, Ithra’s indoor and outdoor spaces weave together history, arts and community engagement, offering a wide range of experiences inspired by the beginnings of the first Saudi state across the center’s facilities.
Visitors are welcomed into a festive, family-friendly Ramadan atmosphere through a rich array of 30 programs, activities and events honoring the Kingdom’s heritage and the achievements of the country’s founders 300 years ago.
Riyadh-based Tiger Lee, who is from China, drove several hours from the capital to Dhahran and was delighted to experience the celebratory energy.
“Today is a holiday and we have three days of vacation (for Founding Day), so we just visited this city — it is our first time,” he told Arab News as his two friends, also Chinese, looked on.
“This city is so beautiful; it has a beautiful beach, different from Riyadh — that’s a beautiful city also,” Lee said.
“I have been in Riyadh for four years, but this is my first time in Dhahran. You know, the Chinese are always working, very busy. And it’s the Chinese New Year and also Ramadan, so it’s a very, very special time,” he said.
Lee was eager to enter the Ithra Cinema and watch one of the films being screened.
“We will enter to watch a film in half an hour, I don’t know what it is about, I still did not watch, but I want to understand how this country is building, what is this history of this country?”
He was also excited to explore the country more broadly.
“Saudi Arabia is a very, very important country in the Middle East. We also have a good friendship between China and this country,” Lee added. “I feel so good. I’m saying thank you, thank you very much, Saudi Arabia — from my heart.”
As always, entry to the center is free, and visitors of all nationalities are welcome.
There are plenty of culinary experiences for snacking and dining within the center’s premises. Nosh, Cantina, Tobby’s, Baking Up, Brunswick, Salil, Origo, Roboresso, Fast 2, and, of course, Pattis, an Ithra staple for years, are among the options available for food and drinks.
Outdoor offerings include the souq, featuring local vendors selling traditional goods; the Henna: From Mothers to Daughters henna station; traditional sadu weaving sessions; and more.
The nearby Energy Exhibit offers activations such as Minted History, which delves into the Kingdom’s old paper currency, the Najdi Majlis Experience, and Heritage of Our Ancestors.
The Plaza will be hosting three main events: Holy Qur’an: The Manuscripts, Katatib Journey, and the Takhleed mini art exhibition titled “Timeless Sacrifices.”
The cinema, which Lee and his friends attended, is showcasing three films. Screenings are free of charge but require tickets, which can be secured at the box office desk.
The Ithra Museum, as well as the library, are holding special storytelling experiences for the young and young at heart.
The only part of Ithra’s Founding Day festivities that requires purchasing tickets is the Children’s Museum. With so many interactive spaces and activities, the admission price of SR20 ($5) may be worth it.
Since the Founding Day celebrations coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, Ithra has also arranged Taraweeh prayers on the premises for those who wish to join.
The center will be open from 8:30 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. for the duration of the Founding Day celebrations. Visit Ithra’s website or social media channels for exact timings of each activity.
