RIYADH — Speakers at a symposium on 'Globalization of Saudi dishes' underlined the need to promote the traditional Saudi dish Jareesh worldwide. Jareesh has all the potential to become an international brand of the dish if it was accorded more attention in certain aspects, they said while attending the symposium held on the sidelines of the Riyadh International Book Fair 2022 on Sunday. Jareesh is a simple, traditional Saudi dish using crushed wheat. It consists of whole wheat grains that are grinded and cooked with meat or chicken as desired. It is a very popular and well-known dish in the Arabian Gulf region. Jareesh began to spread from the Saudi region of Qassim, and from there it moved to the rest of the regions and neighboring countries, and its recipe contain crushed wheat, yogurt, and meat. The panelists are of the view that there should be some development and enhancement in the methods of preparation and presentation of the dish, in addition to stimulating the role and creativity of Saudi chefs in this field. They also agreed on the importance of the Saudi food heritage, which is characterized by diversity, and the possibility of developing and spreading its culture derived from the history of the Kingdom. In this respect, they called for continued support from the Culinary Arts Commission, which seeks to introduce Saudi dishes locally and globally. Hadeel Al-Mutawa, founder of the popular Takya restaurant, which supports the provision of local dishes in a contemporary way, said that Saudi dishes must preserve their unique identity and improve the way they are presented, stressing the importance of the role of citizens in spreading the culture of Saudi food. She underscored the need to spread kabsa meal, of which cooking can be made in many ways derived from the Kingdom's customs and traditions. On his part, well-known Saudi chef Nawaf Al-Rumaihi said that Saudi dishes have a distinct taste, which calls for creating a visual identity that supports the possibility of its global spread. "Therefore, attention should be paid to improving the way Saudi food is presented, with a focus on the quality of flavors to enhance its attractiveness and make the experience a success," he said. In her presentation, chef Khulood Olaqi said that the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah are witnessing tangible steps towards taking care of restaurants specializing in Saudi dishes, which represent popular dishes from different regions of the Kingdom, which encourage the transition of the local culinary culture to the world. "Jareesh and kabsa are enjoying a remarkable spread, which can be built upon to enhance the identity of Saudi food at the global level," she added. It is noteworthy that the Culinary Arts Commission aims to promote the Saudi culinary heritage locally and internationally. The commission, an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture, was established in February 2020. It also works to create a database of Saudi recipes, enrich the cultural content of local cuisine, serve the culinary sector in the future, discover the talents of local chefs and boost interactions among those interested in cooking Saudi traditional recipes.
