Line up the measuring cups, set the oven and dust off those baking mitts! As part of the Al-Riyadh Food Festival (Jan. 19 – Feb. 2), Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya has announced a Kingdom-wide bake-off to discover the best muffin recipe in Saudi Arabia. Promoted by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), the food festival is a two-week long culinary and cultural event, aimed at showcasing the Kingdom as part of world tourism. For this year's event, participating hotels will present cultural themes in cuisines from around the world. Hilton Garden Inn will be taking local, regional and international visitors to the Kingdom on an American journey, exploring the varying flavors and culinary traditions from the different regions of the United States. As part of the festival, signature dishes like New England Seafood Chowder, Creole Jambalaya, Hawaiian-style wok-seared ahi tuna and traditional Texas smoked brisket will be on the menu for guests to sample and savor. The hotel will also offer a great selection of American-certified Black Angus steaks at the open kitchen barbecue, as well as slow-roasted meats during the daily dinner. Central to the American theme, the hotel has organized the muffin bake-off to showcase a quintessential American tradition. The hotel has invited aspiring cooks from around the Kingdom to participate in its search for the best muffin in the Kingdom, the winner walking away with a weekend's stay at any Hilton Worldwide property around the Middle East and Africa, which includes the Hilton Seychelles Resort & Spa, Hilton Mauritius Resort & Spa as well as Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa. Those who wish to enter the contest can submit their recipes either via email by mailing [email protected] or in person at the hotel by Jan. 21. The recipes should be for 12 muffins, with a weight of 70 to 90 grams per piece. Submitted recipes should include a detailed list of ingredients, method of preparation as well as an image of the finished muffin. A judging panel including Thomas E. Williams, Chargé d'Affaires (Acting) of US Mission in Saudi Arabia will select the five best recipes and the finalists will be invited to make a final presentation to the judges on Feb. 1 when the winner will be chosen. “We are thrilled to be part of the Riyadh Food Festival and to be bringing a delicious slice of American cuisine to the Kingdom. We have hosted a number of food festivals in the past, showcasing Hilton Worldwide's international chefs to Riyadh's gastronomes. With the muffin bake-off, we have a chance to interact with local budding chefs and champion their culinary creations,” said Haakon Gaarder-Larsen, General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya. The winning muffin will also be sold at the Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya for a whole year, with a percentage of the profits going to a charity of the winner's choice. The recipe will also be recreated at 54 Hilton Worldwide properties across the Middle East and Africa for a full-month.
