On the occasion of the X edition of the Italian Food Week in the world, the Italian Consulate General in Jeddah organized a wide variety of initiatives.
On November 12, also in the framework of the “Coffee Week” organized by the Saudi association “Call of Culture” (CoC), the Consulate organize the symposium “Dialogue between Two Cultures: Jeddah and Rome” was held. In the beautiful setting of the historic Sharbatly House al Balad, coffee expert Fabrizio Polojaz, roaster and Vice President of the Trieste Coffee Association, accompanied by local expert Mohammed Boukrieba, led the approximately 90 attendees on a fascinating journey to discover the philosophy of Italian coffee and its most representative example: espresso. The lively discussion was followed by a popular tasting of Italian blends prepared with professional Italian machines. In his introductory speech, the Consul General emphasized the Week’s themes and concepts, highlighting the Committee of Experts’ positive technical opinion regarding the inclusion of Italian cuisine as a whole in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. Highlights were also given to the visit to Riyadh of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, the Hon. Tajani, the Italian-Saudi Business Forum, and the Milan Furniture Fair, also in the Saudi capital.
The traditional gala dinner officially inaugurating the SCIM also took place on November 18th at the prestigious Park Hyatt Hotel, a longtime partner of the initiative. Dedicated to the diplomatic and consular community, the OIC, the Consulate’s sponsors, and the press, the evening offered a further opportunity to highlight Italy’s candidacy and the excellence of bilateral relations.
On the afternoon of the 19th, the Consul General, together with several members of the Bin Dawood family—owners of the “Danube” hypermarket chain and one of the country’s most prominent business dynasties—inaugurated “The Italian Corner” at the group’s largest facility, the Red Sea Mall in Jeddah, which averages approximately 8,000 customers daily. For the occasion, the megastore (approximately 22,000 m2) was entirely decorated in Italian colors and with the logos and posters of Italian Cuisine Week, further enhancing the event’s visibility.
Several restaurants have also decided to join the initiative this year and will offer special menus dedicated to the Week until early December, publicizing the event and amplifying its impact on their respective media channels.
