Sofia Carson flaunts Lebanese labels at New York performance with Andrea Bocelli

Sofia Carson championed Elie Saab and Zuhair Murad throughout the year, culminating with two performances in New York with Andrea Bocelli this weekend. (Instagram)
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Updated 22 December 2024
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Sofia Carson flaunts Lebanese labels at New York performance with Andrea Bocelli

DUBAI: Singer and actress Sofia Carson continued her love affair with powerhouse Lebanese designers at two shows in New York this week, after showing off looks by Elie Saab and Zuhair Murad at promotional events on numerous occasions this year.

Carson performed at New York’s Madison Square Garden alongside legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli this weekend in a scarlet gown from Elie Saab’s Autum/ Winter Couture 2022 line. One day later, she hit the stage for part two of the event in a black, off-the-shoulder taffeta dress from Zuhair Murad’s ready-to-wear pre-Fall 2024 collection.

“As I stepped off stage, my mom, my dream maker, held my hand and asked me what I felt. . . I said ‘I feel elated,’” Carson captioned a carousel of behind-the-scenes shots on Instagram, in which she is wearing Murad’s creation.

In October, the singer and “Purple Hearts” actress was spotted in New York in a caped Elie Saab couture look from the maison’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection, while earlier that month she hit the red carpet in Rome in another gown by the designer.

Carson showed off a sea green gown from Elie Saab’s Fall/Winter 2023 couture collection at the “Andrea Bocelli 30 - The Celebration” premiere in Rome.

The A-symmetrical neckline and sweeping ballgown skirt brought a dose of glamor to the red carpet, with Carson opting for a sleek up-do and diamond-and-emerald earrings.

“Honored to have been by your side as we premiered your film,” the actress posted on Instagram alongside a photo in which she is seen posing with Bocelli.

The film chronicles Bocelli's three-day July concert event in Italy honoring his 30th anniversary in the music industry.

Rewind to May and Carson was seen in the French Riviera as she walked the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in yet another look by Saab. The star opted for an olive-toned ensemble from the designer’s Spring/ Summer 2024 couture collection.

Carson is something of a fan of Lebanon’s couturiers — in 2022 the actress attended the Global Citizen Festival in New York a coordinating look from Zuhair Murad’s Resort 2023 collection, while in late 2023, the actress cut an elegant figure in a Zuhair Murad gown at the second annual Cam for a Cause event in memory of her former co-star Cameron Boyce.


Michelin Guide Saudi Arabia announces final wave of restaurants

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Michelin Guide Saudi Arabia announces final wave of restaurants

DUBAI: The Michelin Guide in Saudi Arabia on Monday unveiled the final wave of restaurants in its three-part rollout, with three new Bib Gourmands awarded to restaurants in Riyadh, and one each in Jeddah and AlUla.

A total of 52 restaurants, spanning across Riyadh, Jeddah and AlUla, make up the Michelin Guide Saudi Arabia 2026 selection, with 11 establishments earning the Bib Gourmand distinction.

The Bib Gourmand award highlights restaurants within the selection which offer good quality food at an affordable price, whereas the Michelin Selected restaurants are noted for the high standard of their cooking and consistency. It’s an endorsement that they’re worth visiting, aligned with the guide’s professional standards.

In Riyadh, the newly awarded Bib Gourmand restaurants include Lebanese eatery Em Sherif Café, local favorite Najd Village, and Persian-inspired Sasani. 

Jeddah’s new Bob Gourmand awardee is Samia’s Dish, known for its Hijazi classics.

And, finally, in AlUla, the Bib Gourmand was awarded to Tofareya, a local favorite in a charming village house at the foot of AlUla’s fort, serving authentic Saudi dishes.

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, said in a statement: “Michelin Inspectors enjoyed dining everywhere whether humble village houses steeped in heritage to chic contemporary spaces that celebrate modern design. The country’s tables showcase a rich mix of influences, blending Saudi roots with Levantine warmth, Peruvian flair, and international sophistication. This diversity reflects a nation proud of its culture yet open to the world.”

The wave of announcements mark a milestone in the Kingdom’s evolving culinary landscape.

Poullennec spoke to Arab News in Paris in October the future of Saudi Arabia’s food scene. “When we are talking about Saudi, we still have to consider that it’s an emerging both gastronomic and hospitality destination … the second step … is to see more independently run and smaller properties blossom.”