RIYADH: The head of Saudi Arabia’s Culinary Arts Commission has been awarded the Order of the Star of Italy for her work in promoting Saudi-Italian ties through food and culture.
The commission’s CEO Mayada Badr was honored at a reception on Tuesday at the Italian ambassador’s residence in Riyadh.
“It’s a great honor to receive it from the Italian embassy. It’s one of the recognitions of the work we do with Italy,” Badr told Arab News.
“And it’s a cross-cultural collaboration. It’s a very big honor for me to receive it.”
The honor is granted to foreign nationals who are considered to have promoted friendly relations and cooperation with Italy.
Italy’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Carlo Baldocci described it as a “very important decoration” and said that “Ms. Badr really deserves it.”
“She’s doing a great job here for the Culinary Arts Commission. She’s creating a very strong connection with my country.”
Badr, who attended the reception with her family and friends, said: “I think food is the simplest form of bridging cultures. I think it’s the first thing you want to do when you meet a different culture or a different person. Before you even start working with someone, you share a meal, you get to know that person.”
She said that she believed “hospitality is engraved in Saudi Arabia as well as Italy.”
“We can also see the similarities between cultures through food. I mean, food has no borders. When things travel through the spice routes or the trade routes, you kind of see how dishes originated from one area, spread to others, got influenced by different cultures and techniques.”
Badr said that the commission had spent two years documenting Saudi dishes and that it would soon be taking part in a food and cultural festival in Milan, where it hoped to share Saudi cuisine with the world.
“We’re very excited to showcase Saudi cuisine … (and) also handicrafts in this beautiful exhibition.”
She also highlighted Saudi Feast, an event organized by the commission to celebrate culinary heritage, which opened last week and runs until Saturday.
“It is the largest Saudi food festival in the world and you still have time to go,” she said.
Among the attractions are a “honey experience,” more than 100 restaurants serving 300 dishes and stalls selling handicrafts, food and other items from all 13 regions of the country.
