Saudi creative brings her late mother’s cooking to life

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Waad Janbi’s animated short ‘Mom’s Spaghetti’ depicts a grieving teenage boy’s quest recreate a beloved dish his mother used to prepare for him. (Supplied)
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Updated 29 March 2024
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Saudi creative brings her late mother’s cooking to life

  • Waad Janbi’s ‘Mom’s Spaghetti’ aired on MBC Academy, portrays the love language of food

DHAHRAN: In Waad Janbi’s new animated short film, “Mom’s Spaghetti,” which aired this week on MBC Academy, the Saudi creative serves the audience a universal story of overcoming grief after the loss of a loved one, and the importance of feeding your soul — and your stomach.

The animated short follows 14-year-old Amjad as he awkwardly — and delicately — navigates dealing with the loss of his mother by attempting to recreate a beloved dish she used to prepare for him.

The story starts on the first day of Ramadan and he is seen playing ball in front of his home. He interrupts the game when his grandmother gently pokes her head out from the window overlooking the street and tells him to take it easy since it is the first day of fasting in the holy month. He tells his friends he needs to step inside to help his grandmother and cheerfully goes in to support her.




Waad Janbi’s animated short ‘Mom’s Spaghetti’ depicts a grieving teenage boy’s quest recreate a beloved dish his mother used to prepare for him. (Supplied)

Inside, the mood is somber. His father and sister also live with them. They break their fast mostly in silence.

For the next several days, along with his sister and grandmother, he attempts to re-create the favorite spaghetti dish that his mother used to make. They fail. Until one day, Amjad finds a blue notebook with drawings on the cover. It is his mother’s recipe book tucked away in a drawer. They try again. And again. Until one day, it smells and looks the way his mother used to make. Tears fill his eyes as he, and his family, enjoy the dish that their beloved mother used to serve them.

Janbi, who is a filmmaker and writer raised in Makkah and educated in the US, used some of her family’s real story sprinkled into this fictional narrative.

“The real inspiration came from my younger brother, Hamza. When our mother died, he was very athletic so she would prepare vegetables for him — healthy things. Right before she died, she told him that she made him something that she saved in the oven for him. ‘I kept it for you,’ she said,” Janbi told Arab News.




Waad Janbi, Saudi creative

But then she died and the household was overcome with grief. During the funeral, the dish was forgotten. Eventually, Hamza went looking for it and realized that it was gone.

“It likely went bad and someone threw it out while they were cleaning. Hamza was really sad about it, sad how the last thing our mother made for him, he couldn’t taste. So, when I wrote the story, I had him in my mind. This was the last act of love that she made but he couldn’t eat that last dish. That last serving of love was untouched,” Janbi said.

The way mama showed love and what she was most proud of was food.

Waad Janbi, Saudi creative

“Mama was a phenomenal cook. She was famous for her macarona bechamel. Our relatives would flock over just to taste her food. But I guess many don’t make that normally during Ramadan so I switched it the more widely known spaghetti,” she said.

The title was inspired by an unlikely source: the US rapper Eminem, who was popular during Janbi’s youth. In his debut, and critically acclaimeded film, “8 mile,” he famously rapped a lyric where he says: “Mom’s spaghetti.” Janbi, who uses humor to cope with grief, decided to use it.




Waad Janbi’s animated short ‘Mom’s Spaghetti’ depicts a grieving teenage boy’s quest recreate a beloved dish his mother used to prepare for him. (Supplied)

“I was being playful with the title. Eminem wasn’t ashamed of his anger, he turned it into art. And, although I’m aware that he was problematic during different times, he was a poet and that line stuck with me and it would make me snicker to myself each time I heard someone mention ‘Mom’s spaghetti’ in my short film’s title,” she said.

This film is a love letter to all the things that inspired Janbi rolled into one.

In the Janbi household growing up, they would watch MBC on the screen while preparing the food and then switch to live footage of the Haram right before Maghreb.

Fast-forward to years later, Janbi enrolled in MBC Academy’s first online cohort dedicated to screenwriting. She then took a more advanced screenwriting course and did on-site training in Dubai. Through a group chat, mentors at MBC Academy encouraged former participants to write and pitch an episode as part of a series that would air during Ramadan. They were told that seven episodes would be selected.

Janbi felt the pull of her mother and was able to scramble together her story in the nick of time. Like her mother, she used a bit of this, a dash of that, and was able to produce a story that she shared with the committee. Her story was selected and was released as the second of the seven stories.

It was important for her to write it from the point of view of a Saudi teen boy, in order to subtly shift the conversation.

“In the story, the boy was trying to learn basic skills, to feed himself and his family. I grew up with very strict rules about gender roles; me as a girl, I’d have to help with the kitchen and my brother had to help feed those fasting with father. I began to understand the pressures my brother had and wanted to let Saudi boys know that they should be active in their own lives. Helping in the kitchen is good, helping your grandmother is good. And they should learn how to feed themselves!” she said.

While food is vital to survival, certain dishes can truly make you feel alive. With curated ingredients and specific spices and herbs mixed just right, that culinary journey can turn that spoon or fork into a sort of time machine. It can bring you back to simpler times.

Janbi’s older sisters still have some of the handwritten recipes that their mother scribbled in loose notebook papers, each fragmented page tells a story of a time long gone but also serves as a treasure map to revive that magic.

“The way mama showed love and what she was most proud of was food. She would never hug us or kiss us or say ‘I love you,’ but she would lovingly prepare the dish you loved and that was her love language,” Janbi said.

Janbi was overwhelmed by the positive reception after her episode aired. Her friends flooded her inbox and tagged her on social media, praising the story that resonated deeply with viewers of all backgrounds. The storytelling was layered and complex but told in a clear way.

“Usually the artist is never satisfied with the final draft but I was happy with the way that the MBC Academy team was able to bring it to life, even though they modified some things and left things out that I was slightly upset about, like in my vision, the mother had different hair … but I also understood their decision,” she said.

Janbi especially wanted to thank MBC Academy’s Munira Altheeb, assistant project manager at MBC Academy Middle East, for her support.

But, most importantly, her family understood what she was trying to achieve. She had told her siblings about the story before it came out and when it was ready, they all watched it. Her brother, the one that inspired the story, was excited. Her older sisters cried. Her youngest sibling, a sister, was slightly upset that the story didn’t seem to include her.

“I told my little sister, ‘Don’t worry, the next film I write will feature a story from your point-of-view,’” Janbi said.

To this day, Janbi’s family have not yet perfected their mother’s green beans with shrimps dish, her favorite. But they will keep on trying.

And Janbi will keep on typing.

The short animated film, which runs just under 10 minutes, can be viewed on MBC Academy’s YouTube channel.

 


How AI can be leveraged to reduce food loss, improve nutrition, and cut emissions

Updated 14 sec ago
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How AI can be leveraged to reduce food loss, improve nutrition, and cut emissions

  • By optimizing food processing at its source, AI is playing a role in reducing emissions and making food production more sustainable
  • Preservation techniques, such as freeze-drying and 3D printing, are being optimized with AI to create long-lasting, nutritious products

RIYADH: Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing nearly every industry, and food production is no exception. From precision farming to lab-grown meat, AI is enabling more sustainable, efficient, and innovative ways to feed the world’s growing population.

One of the most promising applications is the use of AI to tackle food loss — one of the biggest challenges facing global food security. Each year, an estimated $1 trillion worth of food is lost before it even reaches consumers due to spoilage, supply chain inefficiencies, and market rejections.

But AI-powered solutions are beginning to change that, helping to extend shelf life, maximize nutritional value, and reduce environmental impact.

At the forefront of this movement is Essence Food, a company that has combined AI, 3D printing, and advanced freeze-drying techniques to transform surplus produce into nutrient-rich, long-lasting food products.

Led by CEO and founder Marcio Barradas, the company is pioneering a data-driven approach to food preservation, proving that cutting-edge technology can turn food loss into opportunity — benefiting both the planet and public health.

During a 2017 TED talk, Barradas highlighted the crucial difference between food loss and food waste. He explained that food loss occurs early in the supply chain, before products reach consumers, while food waste happens at the consumer level.

The consequences of food loss are significant, leading to a drastic reduction in the volume of food available for consumption. Several factors contribute to this issue, including poor yields, quality inconsistencies, spoilage, and inefficiencies in transportation and storage.

One particularly troubling aspect of food loss is the rejection of perfectly edible fruits and vegetables by retailers due to aesthetic imperfections. This practice results in vast quantities of nutritious food being discarded before it ever reaches a plate.

Reflecting on his TED talk, Barradas told Arab News: “It was a call to the industry to wake up and stop wasting foods when they can actually monetize them. So it was sort of from trash to cash.”

Despite growing awareness of food loss, Barradas observed that as recently as 2019, no large-scale solutions had been implemented to tackle the problem effectively. Determined to change this, he launched Essence Food, a company dedicated to reducing food loss through advanced technology.

By integrating AI with the freeze-drying process, Essence Food repurposes surplus and rejected produce that might otherwise go to waste. This not only preserves valuable nutrients but also addresses long-term health and environmental concerns associated with food production.

Freeze-drying, unlike other dehydration methods, retains a greater percentage of a food’s original nutrients while significantly improving shelf life and product quality. These advantages make it an ideal technology for tackling food loss on a global scale.

After its initial launch in Spain, Essence Food quickly expanded its footprint in the Middle East, beginning with the UAE and now moving into Saudi Arabia.

“We presented it at Gulfood in Dubai, and amazingly, we won as most innovative startup back in 2019,” said Barradas, referring to the company’s 3D-printed products, which have been showcased at the prestigious food industry event.

“This allowed us to expand very fast in the region and start to see how we can optimize all the resources that exist, knowing there is a region that imports the majority of its fruits and vegetables.

“Encouraged by winning that award at Gulfood, what I saw is that in the Middle East, there is an advantage compared to Europe. It’s less bureaucratic. When the decision-makers here believe in something, they will bring it to the front and it will be implemented.”

Although freeze-drying and 3D printing are not new technologies, AI has revolutionized their efficiency. When Barradas founded Essence Food, the company was already “very proactive with machine learning.

“All our data was being stored and analyzed in terms of accelerating the processes, having better decision-making, and also using that machine-learning capacity to really teach our machines.”

As the company worked to develop a more efficient freeze-dryer, AI emerged as the key to optimizing the technique. “Now, the age of AI came really strong in the last two years. So, what we’re doing is a virtual library,” said Barradas.

Every fruit or vegetable that enters Essence Food’s freeze-drying process undergoes rigorous analysis in a laboratory. Strawberries, bananas, tomatoes, beetroot — each ingredient is tested to determine its precise nutritional content.

The data collected is then fed into a virtual AI library, creating a vast database of nutritional insights. This system allows for an unprecedented level of food customization, tailored to individual dietary needs.

“Having that library connected now with AI, you can only imagine how we can customize food for each individual.”

Barradas envisions a future where AI-driven food technology plays a direct role in preventive healthcare. Through Essence Food’s new smartphone app, users will be able to personalize their nutrition with nutrient-rich foods, including a healthier take on gummy bears.

“If I connect your mobile device, which you use every day, and it knows your steps and habits, everything is stored there. If you connect to this app that we are launching, you’ll be able to have customized gummy bears for the whole week,” he said.

“So, you’ll take two gummy bears a day, or one gummy bear a day, not to cure any disease, but to prevent you from getting any disease.”

He believes that modern diets have led to an over-reliance on supplements and pharmaceuticals. “We are only dealing with the consequences, with the symptoms, but we’re not fighting the causes,” he said.

Beyond nutrition, machine learning is also driving new sustainability initiatives within Essence Food’s freeze-drying technology.

One of the company’s most innovative breakthroughs is the recovery of water from fruits during the drying process. This reclaimed water has the potential to support vertical farming and other water-scarce agricultural initiatives.

“There’s something really amazing in this technology,” said Barradas. “It doesn’t need water, but it brings back water. So, any time you freeze-dry in the machine, it gives you potable water that was inside the fruits.”

The implications of this discovery are particularly relevant for regions like Saudi Arabia, where water scarcity is a pressing issue.

“If we load the machine with 40 kg of strawberries, we will be removing 35 liters, 32 liters, of potable water,” said Barradas.

This water recovery system can be integrated with vertical farming operations, creating a closed-loop system where food loss is minimized and essential resources are conserved.

“We want to create a synergy with vertical farming, where we recover food losses from these vertical farms in the desert, and with the water that we recover, we create more food,” said Barradas.

“Because Saudi Arabia, being such a vast region, and knowing the region where dates are grown, it will be amazing to bring the technology to the source and not bring the ingredient to Riyadh, for example, to transform it.

“Because the impact of transport and moving fresh ingredients is really big on the planet. We’re looking to go to the source of the ingredient to minimize everything that has to do with CO2 emissions.”
 

 


Saudi Arabia leads Arab condemnation of Israeli raids on Syrian territory

Updated 33 min 12 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia leads Arab condemnation of Israeli raids on Syrian territory

  • Kingdom urges Security Council’s permanent members to address violations in Syria and the region
  • Egypt says raids represent flagrant violation of international law
  • Jordan reiterates support for Syria’s security, stability, sovereignty

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has led Arab condemnation of Israeli airstrikes which violated the Syrian Arab Republic’s sovereignty and resulted in dozens of civilian and military casualties.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Israeli raids were “attempts to threaten the security and stability of Syria and the region through violating international laws.”

The Kingdom urged the UN Security Council’s permanent members to firmly address ongoing Israeli violations in Syria and the region, and called for the activation of accountability mechanisms.

Israeli airstrikes overnight targeted five areas in Syria, including the capital Damascus, and Hama Airport. Multiple people were injured while the actions, and a ground incursion, resulted in 13 fatalities.

Since the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in December, Israel has captured areas of Syria’s southern territory in a bid to keep the forces of the new government back from the border.

Egypt said on Thursday that Israeli raids represented a new and flagrant violation of international law. It called on international actors to compel Israel to end its occupation of Syrian territory and to respect the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates reiterated Amman’s support for Syria’s security, stability, and sovereignty. It stressed the need for Israel to adhere to international law and UN resolutions that call for respecting state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.


Bahrain cabinet minister welcomes new Saudi ambassador in Manama

Hamad bin Faisal Al-Malki (R) and Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi at Gudaibiya Palace in Manama. (Supplied)
Updated 03 April 2025
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Bahrain cabinet minister welcomes new Saudi ambassador in Manama

  • Al-Malki highlighted the brotherly relations between the two Gulf kingdoms, describing them as founded on mutual affection

MANAMA: Bahrain’s Minister of Cabinet Affairs Hamad bin Faisal Al-Malki received on Thursday Saudi Arabia’s newly appointed Ambassador Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi at Gudaibiya Palace in Manama.

During the official reception, Al-Malki highlighted the brotherly relations between the two Gulf kingdoms, describing them as founded on mutual affection and deep-rooted historical ties that continued to flourish under the leadership of both nations.

Al-Sudairi expressed his commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing joint initiatives between the two countries.

 

 


Scientific papers submission closes for Riyadh forum

Updated 03 April 2025
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Scientific papers submission closes for Riyadh forum

  • The two-day conference, themed “The Global Lexicography Industry: Experiences, Efforts, and Prospects,” continues the academy’s mission of advancing Arabic language research

RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language has closed submissions of scientific papers for its fourth annual international conference, set for mid-October in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

Under the patronage of Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the event will host experts, linguistic academies and organizations from more than 20 countries.

The two-day conference, themed “The Global Lexicography Industry: Experiences, Efforts, and Prospects,” continues the academy’s mission of advancing Arabic language research.

Abdullah Al-Washmi, secretary-general of the academy, said that the conference would aim to foster collaboration between the academy and linguistic institutions worldwide.

It will serve as a platform for experts to share insights, review successful initiatives in lexicography, and explore ways to modernize dictionary development through emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, he added.

The conference will also highlight key Arabic and international projects while facilitating knowledge exchange among linguists, language academies and technology experts.

 


Saudi Arabia cracks down on environmental violators

Updated 03 April 2025
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Saudi Arabia cracks down on environmental violators

  • Fines for using local firewood and charcoal commercially can reach SR32,000 per cubic meter, while transporting, selling, or storing carries fines of up to SR16,000

RIYADH: The Special Forces for Environmental Security has arrested two Saudis and six expatriates from India, Pakistan, and Yemen for illegally exploiting sedimentary deposits in the Makkah region.

Authorities also seized five soil excavation machines, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

In a separate case, a Saudi national was apprehended for grazing 12 camels in restricted areas of the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, and faces a fine of SR500 ($133) per camel.

A citizen was arrested in the Eastern Province for setting fires on vegetated land, an offense with a penalty of up to SR3,000.

Three citizens were detained for cutting protective fencing and unauthorized entry into the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve. Fines for fence damage can reach SR100,000, plus compensation, while unauthorized entry carries a SR5,000 fine.

A citizen in Riyadh was caught with two cubic meters of local firewood for commercial use. Fines for using local firewood and charcoal commercially can reach SR32,000 per cubic meter, while transporting, selling, or storing carries fines of up to SR16,000.

Environmental forces also arrested a Nigerian resident in Makkah for burning waste, damaging soil, and polluting the environment. Penalties for such activities can reach up to SR10 million.

Another citizen faces a fine of up to SR3,000 for unauthorized camping in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve.

Action has been taken against the violators, and they have been handed over to the relevant authorities.

Citizens are urged to report environmental violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 and 996 elsewhere in the Kingdom.