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Culinary Arts Commission to Launch Spectacular Saudi Feast Food Festival November 23

A veiled woman prepares traditional Saudi food during the Klaija Heritage and Culture Festival at Buraydah near Riyadh. (REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed)
A veiled woman prepares traditional Saudi food during the Klaija Heritage and Culture Festival at Buraydah near Riyadh. (REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed)
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Culinary Arts Commission to Launch Spectacular Saudi Feast Food Festival November 23

A veiled woman prepares traditional Saudi food during the Klaija Heritage and Culture Festival at Buraydah near Riyadh. (REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed)
A veiled woman prepares traditional Saudi food during the Klaija Heritage and Culture Festival at Buraydah near Riyadh. (REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed)

The Culinary Arts Commission will launch its third annual Saudi Feast Food Festival from November 23 to December 2 at King Saud University in Riyadh. The event promises to be a grand celebration of the Kingdom's vast and deep-rooted culinary heritage.
The festival will highlight traditional Saudi dishes and culinary arts to local, regional, and global audiences. Attendees can expect to immerse themselves in unique gastronomic experiences, tasting traditional foods in a unique setting. The festival also will highlight emerging opportunities in the Saudi food industry and discuss the sustainability of such ventures, SPA reported.
The festival boasts an array of diverse activities spanning across 13 distinct zones. Highlights include a section dedicated to the profound culinary heritage, giving visitors a taste of traditional cooking arts. For the younger crowd, there is a children's zone and an engaging interactive farm packed with educational activities that sharpen both sensory and cognitive abilities, all while reflecting the ethos of the festival.
The event caters to culinary professionals and enthusiasts with a dedicated business hub. This space facilitates networking and hosts insightful discussion sessions spearheaded by global industry leaders, aiming to foster job opportunities in the Kingdom's burgeoning culinary scene.
The festival features an Olive Showcase, where visitors can dive deep into everything about olives -- from understanding the tree itself to appreciating its fruit. Here, attendees can explore the unique relationship olives share with Saudi culture, taste various olive varieties, and shop for assorted olive products. The festival also offers a shopping arena where visitors can find unique items from local brands and boutiques. An entertainment corner further enriches the experience, encompassing a mix of live music, instrumental shows, and dynamic performances.
The Republic of Greece is set to display its rich culinary traditions at the festival, highlighting the commission’s goal to introduce a blend of local and international cuisines in the festival. Visitors can delve into a range of dining experiences, with diverse restaurants offering unique dishes. There are also hands-on cooking workshops led by culinary experts, promoting top institutions in the food world. For those seeking an upscale dining experience, there is an exclusive dinner area that serves a blend of the finest Saudi and international dishes. Moreover, there is a live cooking competition spotlighting traditional Saudi recipes. Concluding the event will be the Gourmand Awards at the Business Theater, celebrating the best in global culinary content.
The Saudi Feast Food Festival is a vibrant platform designed to celebrate and exhibit the vast culinary traditions of Saudi Arabia. Organized by the Culinary Arts Commission, this event emphasizes the cultural and historical significance of Saudi cuisine. It provides a unique opportunity for Saudi chefs to exhibit their culinary masterpieces and skills. More than just a food festival, it is an educational experience for the community, drawing international and local chefs, food industry experts, farmers, and enthusiasts. This gathering offers a blend of learning, business, and investment prospects in the world of gastronomy.
The festival seeks to foster a community of food connoisseurs by organizing the most significant event of its kind across the Middle East. It underscores the commitment of Saudi Arabia, championed by the Ministry of Culture, to celebrate food as a cherished part of its national heritage. It also motivates the country's youth who have a passion for culinary arts to evolve their interests into thriving businesses.

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Viking Ship Navigating Seafarers’ Ancient Routes Berths in Adriatic 

A full-size archaeological reconstruction of a 10th-century Viking knarr "Saga Farmann" on its years-long expedition through European rivers, channels and seas, is berthed in Port of Bar, Montenegro, July 20, 2024. (Reuters)
A full-size archaeological reconstruction of a 10th-century Viking knarr "Saga Farmann" on its years-long expedition through European rivers, channels and seas, is berthed in Port of Bar, Montenegro, July 20, 2024. (Reuters)
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Viking Ship Navigating Seafarers’ Ancient Routes Berths in Adriatic 

A full-size archaeological reconstruction of a 10th-century Viking knarr "Saga Farmann" on its years-long expedition through European rivers, channels and seas, is berthed in Port of Bar, Montenegro, July 20, 2024. (Reuters)
A full-size archaeological reconstruction of a 10th-century Viking knarr "Saga Farmann" on its years-long expedition through European rivers, channels and seas, is berthed in Port of Bar, Montenegro, July 20, 2024. (Reuters)

A replica Viking ship has berthed in Montenegro's Adriatic port of Bar on a years-long trip through European waters inspired by the Norse seafarers who set out from Scandinavia to explore, trade and conquer a millennium ago.

The ship, Saga Farmann, is a full-size archaeological reconstruction of a 10th-century Viking cargo vessel, or knarr, made from oak and pine, which was found in Norway as early as 1893 but only excavated in the 1970s.

"This is the type of ship that would travel to Iceland, or Greenland, even North America," said Linda Sten Vagnes, one of the journey's leaders.

The trip, set to end in 2026, was originally planned to follow the Norwegian coast into the White Sea off northern Russia and the Volga River, but it was rerouted to follow the rivers of Europe from West to East.

"We had to the change the route because of the war (in Ukraine)," Sten Vagnes said.

The Viking age, spanning the 8th to 11th centuries AD, saw Norsemen journey from Scandinavia aboard timber longships to stage raids, trade and settle across a wide region, including North America, using their mastery of maritime technology.

The Saga Farman's journey, which started in 2023, was inspired by the sagas about Vikings who travelled to Constantinople, capital of the-then Byzantine empire.

It took years of hard work by enthusiasts, with the support of the governments of Denmark and Norway, to make an exact copy of a knarr. The vessel was launched in 2018, said Axel Hubert Persvik, a ship builder.

"It takes a long time because most of craft we do is by hand, ... it takes many hours to build it."

At the latest leg of the trip, the 21 meters (69 ft)-long and five meters (16 ft)-wide ship sailed from the Aegean Sea into the Adriatic, said Zander Simpson, the ship's captain.

"The next stage of the trip is around Italy, Sicily ... to stay in Rome this winter, before next year's stage which will take her up the Italian coast, the French Riviera ... to Paris."

In addition to sails and oars, the Saga Farmann has four electric motors to propel it upwind and upstream. More than three tons of batteries are stored onboard where they serve for propulsion and as ballast.