What can you tell us about your current role as CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission?
My colleagues and I feel privileged to experience firsthand the transformation of the kingdom’s culinary and hospitality sectors. With a number of successful initiatives already under our belt, we are looking forward to continuing to share our diverse culinary offering and renowned hospitality with the world.
How do you intend to elevate Saudi Arabia’s culinary scene?
We want the world to discover Saudi Arabia through its diverse culinary offering, shaped by each of our 13 different regions. To achieve our goal, we are focusing on preservation, education and innovation, sharing our unique culinary heritage with the world.
In 2020, you launched the Irth Matbakhna’ initiative and were working on the release of your own book. What are your plans for 2021?
Some of the world’s leading restaurant brands arrived in Saudi in 2021, such as Zuma and ROKA. We recently announced plans to open a Le Cordon Bleu institute in Riyadh, which will see aspiring Saudi chefs realize their culinary ambitions, and our book — Saudi Feast — will soon be released.
How has the role of women in the workplace changed in Saudi Arabia?
Thanks to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, we have seen unprecedented numbers of women in the workforce; almost 45 percent of the Ministry of Culture’s employees are female and many are in leadership positions. My hope is that through the development of our culinary and hospitality talent, we will see this continue on an upward trajectory.
About author
Rita Ghantous
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector. Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC). She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book. She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter. Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler. It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
