Ajinet Mariam is a peaceful bistro serving the best of Lebanese cuisine.
It has two branches in Saudi Arabia — in U-Walk Jeddah and Park Avenue Mall in Riyadh.
The bakery is well-known for its delicious pies made with a special fresh dough. They have beef pesto curry served with pita bread, bakhla salad, as well as sujuk sausage mix. They also offer kofta pie with cheese and batata mahrousa, or potato pie with mozzarella cheese.
They also serve refreshing juices such as orange and pomegranate.
Kale salad, mixed-cheese mashrouha, kashkaval cheese mashrouha, and Mariam Moutabal are other favourites.
They serve delicious hot mezze dishes such as manti, sujuk, and pesto ras asfour. There are plenty of vegan options at the restaurant.
They also have kashta bel kashta, a cream-based delicacy, and karabig fingers — pistachio shortbread fingers served with a light meringue dip and topped with fine crushed pistachios and scented rose-petal jam.
All of the branches are large, with both indoor and outdoor areas and a terrific Lebanese music vibe. Prices are reasonable.
The restaurants are open from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
You can order from the restaurant online through the Chefz app: their Instagram is @ajinetmariam.
Opinion: Tackling childhood obesity starts at home
Updated 14 July 2025
Dr. Hanan Al-Shaikh
DHAHRAN:Here, Dr. Hanan Al-Shaikh discusses child obesity in a mini opinion piece for Arab News. Al-Shaikh is chair of the Women and Children’s Health Department at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare in Saudi Arabia.
The received wisdom about the causes of obesity is that genetics has the strongest influence. This seems to provide comfort to parents of large children: It’s not my fault; it’s written in their DNA.
This is nonsense. Children are not born obese; obesity is induced by their environment. Yes, a child’s genetics can make them more susceptible to overeating, but are they the ones buying the food and cooking the meals?
Sorry, parents, but it is time to take responsibility for your children’s waistlines. You and you alone have the strongest influence on whether your children become overweight or obese. You choose what they eat and determine how much they exercise. Your own choices around diet and physical exertion set the example they will follow.
A recent forecast published in leading medical journal The Lancet suggests that Saudi Arabia will have one of the highest child obesity rates in the world by 2050. Separate research suggests that obesity costs the country almost $227 billion a year.
It is human nature to seek excuses for big problems by focusing on factors outside of one’s control. Yes, genetics plays a role in obesity. No, we cannot stop our children from seeing billboards advertising fried chicken buckets. Yes, the heat makes it harder to exercise outdoors for many months of the year.
It is also human nature to confer responsibility for big problems on others, particularly the state. The government needs to crack down on fast food advertising, encourage schools to raise physical activity levels, and so on.
These things may be true. But most of us retain the absolute power to choose what we eat and how much we exercise – even if we pretend we do not – and many factors are well within our control.
One of these is the role that parents have in teaching their children how to eat and exercise in their earliest years. Nothing influences a young child more than the actions of their parents, and roughly speaking, the first seven years of a child’s life are crucial for instilling lifelong habits for healthy eating and exercise.
Once a child becomes overweight or obese, it is incredibly hard for them to shed the weight. Some obese children may need surgery; most will need months, if not years, of treatment. The burden on the child, the parents, and the healthcare system is huge. Prevention rather than intervention is key.
Sadly, some kids who visit the paediatric wellness clinic at our hospital tell us they get as many as eight hours of screen time per day, eat chocolate and popcorn for lunch, and drink more than a can of soda daily. These are terrible habits that will almost certainly cross over into their adult lives.
It is time for parents to stop blaming influences outside their control and, instead, play a leading role in the fight against child obesity.
Saudi Arabia makes space for freelancers to thrive in culinary sector
Culinary Commission’s latest move is ‘a dream come true’ for chefs
Updated 12 July 2025
Afshan Aziz
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Culinary Arts Commission has launched a freelance license for chefs via the Abde’a Cultural Licenses Platform.
The commission’s CEO, Mayada Badr, told Arab News: “The freelance chef license is a major milestone in empowering Saudi culinary talent, as it is opening the door for chefs to innovate and succeed independently while contributing to the Kingdom’s culinary sector.”
The newly introduced license will enable Saudi nationals aged 18 and above — and who hold certified culinary training and valid food safety or health certifications. (Supplied)
Abde’a, an e-platform developed to strengthen partnerships with the private sector, is operated under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture.
The newly introduced license will enable Saudi nationals aged 18 and above — and who hold certified culinary training and valid food safety or health certifications — to legally provide freelance culinary services, paving the way for wider freelance opportunities in diverse venues and events across the Kingdom.
The freelance chef license is a major milestone in empowering Saudi culinary talent, as it is opening the door for chefs to innovate and succeed independently while contributing to the Kingdom’s culinary sector.
Mayada Badr, Saudi Culinary Arts Commission CEO
The initiative will “support skill development and career growth in the sector, as well as recognition and credibility by reinforcing adherence to professional standards in the culinary field,” according to a statement.
Chef Rawan Al-Harthi, a Jeddah-based pastry chef, said: “This license gives us the freedom to showcase our culinary identity while working independently and legally. It’s a dream come true for chefs who want to grow their brand without being tied to a restaurant.”
Another chef, Faisal Al-Malki, echoed Al-Harthi’s sentiments. “Being recognized as a licensed freelance chef adds value to our profession and pushes us to raise the bar in terms of quality and creativity,” he said.
The launch of this initiative “underscores the commission’s commitment to expanding opportunities for local culinary talent, while fostering a culture of creativity and professionalism,” a press release stated.
Where We Are Going Today: ‘Liu Chong Qing Hot Pot’ – Chinese restaurant in Riyadh
Refreshing fruits and traditional Chinese tea are served at the end of the meal, which rounds out the experience beautifully
Updated 11 July 2025
Rahaf Jambi
If you’re seeking an affordable yet delightful hot pot experience, Liu Chong Qing Hot Pot in Riyadh is a must-try. This renowned Chinese restaurant chain specializes in Sichuan-style hot pot and boasts over 500 locations worldwide, making it a favorite among hot pot enthusiasts.
The restaurant offers both spicy and mild broth, catering to a range of preferences. But the broth is just the beginning; the open buffet is truly the highlight. Guests can choose from a vast array of fresh ingredients, including shrimp, crab, lettuce, salmon, tuna, and various types of mushrooms. This buffet style allows you to pick exactly what you want, ensuring a personalized dining experience.
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, you can return to your table, where raw beef awaits. One of the best parts of the experience is cooking the beef to your liking. You can choose how you want it done — whether rare, medium, or well-done — adding a layer of customization to your meal. It’s exciting to watch the raw meat sizzle in the hot pot. You can wrap the cooked beef in lettuce or enjoy it on its own, perhaps with a side of rice.
Refreshing fruits and traditional Chinese tea are served at the end of the meal, which rounds out the experience beautifully. The restaurant’s location in the vibrant Hittin district of the Saudi capital adds to its appeal, ensuring a lively atmosphere that enhances the dining experience.
The branch in Riyadh is huge and boasts a corner that allows visitors to try traditional Chinese outfits and take pictures.
From the variety of ingredients to the enjoyable cooking process, Liu Chong Qing delivers a satisfying hot pot experience that’s both fun and delicious.
Recipes for success: Chef Federico Erroi offers advice, a tasty crème brûlée recipe
Updated 11 July 2025
Hams Saleh
DUBAI: Federico Erroi’s culinary story begins in Florence, Italy, guided by his grandmother’s steady hands. She taught young Federico how to make pastry cream, sparking his lifelong fascination with desserts and the discipline behind them.
“I was never the best at theoretical subjects in school,” Erroi tells Arab News. “But when it came to getting my hands dirty in the kitchen, I always found success and great satisfaction.”
Caption
By the age of 21, Erroi was already working professionally in Florence. After nearly a decade honing his craft in Italy, he moved to Dubai in 2017. Since then, he has led pastry programs at top-tier restaurants including Rue Royale and Cipriani. Today, he heads the pastry team at CÉ LA VI Dubai, a restaurant featured in the city’s Michelin Guide for three consecutive years.
Erroi was recently shortlisted for Pastry Chef of the Year by the Hotel and Catering Awards.
When you started out, what was the most common mistake you made?
If there’s one thing I’ve always struggled with — not just in the kitchen, but in life — it’s patience. I always wanted to finish everything as quickly as possible, but still perfectly. This has been one of my biggest challenges, because pastry — especially baking — requires time. Long resting periods, fermentation and proofing are what give flavor, texture and structure to the best products. A mousse that hasn’t rested long enough will be too runny, and dough that hasn’t been rested long enough will lack flavor. That’s how I’ve come to master the ancient art of patience.
CÉ LA VI Dubai. (Supplied)
What’s your top tip for amateurs?
When it comes to pastry, the most common mistake is always the same: precision. Pastry is a perfect balance, an alchemy based on carefully selected and precisely measured ingredients. Many amateurs get the measurements wrong out of haste or distraction, or they replace ingredients or alter quantities as they please, which inevitably leads to disappointing results.
My mother, for example, has the bad habit of reducing the amounts of butter or cream in my recipes. She’s very health-conscious and always afraid of overdoing it. But without fail, the result never satisfies her, and she always asks the same questions: “Federico, why are these cookies so hard?” or “Why is this cream flavorless?” or “Why is this mousse so runny?” And my response is always the same: “Mom, are you sure you followed the recipe?”
Desserts aren’t always healthy. They are indulgences and guilty pleasures. We can absolutely enjoy them, as long as it’s in moderation.
CÉ LA VI Dubai. (Supplied)
What one ingredient can instantly improve any dish?
Any dish, if made with care, passion and — above all — love, will never disappoint. And maybe it’s the love we put into cooking that gets passed on to the ingredients we touch and makes our meal a moment of pure pleasure. That’s probably why your mom’s or grandma’s food always tastes the best. Then again, maybe a good quality vanilla or a pinch of salt — a contrast to the sweetness in pastry — is the real secret ingredient.
When you go out to eat, do you find yourself critiquing the food?
I’m simply grateful to share that moment with the people around the table. What scares my friends and family most when they cook for me is the fear of being judged, but I always tell them this: “For those of us who work in kitchens, just sitting at a table with loved ones is already a wonderful meal, because we’re used to eating in a rush, standing up or sitting on a cardboard box in a kitchen corner, alone, at odd hours, or while working.”
What’s your favorite cuisine or dish to order?
I always like to try something new — something beyond my culinary culture or dishes that require complex preparation that I can’t replicate at home. Sometimes, I just enjoy a perfectly executed croissant or a pizza baked in a wood-fired oven. As for desserts, I prefer to stick with the classics — a good tiramisu or quality gelato.
What’s your go-to dish if you have to cook something quickly at home?
Probably pasta with cherry tomatoes, basil and parmesan. If I need a quick dessert, I’ll make a tiramisu, a passion fruit panna cotta or a chocolate soufflé. What do these recipes have in common? Simplicity. Just a few ingredients, each carefully selected and blended or cooked in a way that creates a dish with a unique flavor.
What customer request or behavior most annoys you?
Cooking in a restaurant also means learning to accept criticism, to really listen to what customers say, and to understand their preferences. It’s not always easy to accept certain comments like “This chocolate mousse is too airy” or “This dessert is too sweet or too bitter,” because everyone has their own palette. But sometimes, feedback, if listened to and understood, can genuinely help us improve. That’s why I always stay open to customer opinions, whether positive or negative. In fact, I’m often more interested in the negative feedback, because it’s from that input that I’ve been able to create new ideas or improve dishes I thought were already perfect. The truth is, in this profession, you never truly “arrive.” There’s always something more to learn.
What’s your favorite dish to make?
Panettone. It’s one of those desserts made with just a few ingredients: sourdough starter, water, flour, butter, eggs and sugar, along with raisins and candied orange. But making it is a true magic act that starts with the sourdough itself, a simple mixture of water and flour that’s fermented and refreshed daily for at least three months. This creates a colony of bacteria that will make the panettone rise and give it a unique, unrepeatable flavor, as the bacteria’s development depends on the surrounding temperature, the water used, and good microbes in the working environment. Only when the sourdough is ready can we proceed with the first dough, mixing the starter with water, flour, sugar, butter and eggs.
This rests for 12 hours, followed by the final dough with the remaining ingredients. Then, after another six-hour rest, we reach the magical moment of baking, the moment of truth, where, based on the final volume, we truly understand whether all the previous steps were done perfectly, or if we made mistakes in temperature, fermentation or even the pH of our precious star ingredient, the sourdough starter.
As a head chef, what are you like?
I believe I’ve changed a lot over the years. I love teaching and sharing everything I’ve learned. I have no secrets — there truly are none, even if some professionals still claim otherwise. I always try to motivate my team and keep morale high, especially when the work hours get longer and more stressful. Today, I consider myself a very patient person — maybe thanks to this beautiful profession. I’ve never raised my voice in the kitchen, never insulted or scolded anyone. I firmly believe that kindness and good manners are the foundation of any relationship, and they can truly make a difference in the workplace.
Chef Federico’s pineapple creme brûlée
Ingredients for the coconut pastry cream:
Coconut milk 350 g
Coconut cream 50 g
Sugar 1 38 g
Lime zest 1/2 pc
Sugar 2 38 g
Salt 0.6 g
Flour 32 g
Corn starch 12 g
Egg yolk 80 g
Method:
Mix coconut milk, coconut cream, sugar 1, lime zest in a pot and bring to a boil.
In a separate bowl mix sugar 2, salt, flour, starch, egg yolk till powder is completely absorbed avoiding the lumps formations.
Pour hot liquid onto the egg mix and bring back on fire stirring continuously till first bubble appear.
Pour in a terrine and let it set covered with cling film on touching the cream (to avoid skin formation).
When is completely cold mix till creamy texture and pour it onto the pineapple compote into the pineapple cup.
Coat the surface with sugar and brulee till golden dark brown.
Ingredients for the pineapple compote:
Pineapple juice 100 g
Sugar agar agar 10 g
Finely chopped pineapple 100 g
Method: (One portion 70 g of compote)
Take a whole pineapple, cut off the leaf and slice it into three thick slices horizontally.
With a spoon or a scooper scoop off the pulp creating a cup.
WOOHOO, a restaurant operated by an AI chef, to open in Dubai soon
AI ‘Chef Aiman’ to create data-driven flavour combinations
The restaurant that bills itself as “dining in the future” is set to open in September
Updated 10 July 2025
Reuters
DUBAI: In Dubai, your dinner might soon come with a side of source code.
WOOHOO, a restaurant that bills itself as “dining in the future,” is set to open in September in central Dubai, a stone’s throw from the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
Food at WOOHOO will be assembled by humans, for now, but everything else — from the menu to ambience to service — will be designed by a culinary large-language-model called “Chef Aiman.”
Aiman — a portmanteau of “AI” and “man” — is trained on decades of food science research, molecular composition data and over a thousand recipes from cooking traditions around the world, said Ahmet Oytun Cakir, one of WOOHOO’s founders.
Food prepared using the recipe from "Aiman", the AI Chef is served on a plate, at the Trove Restaurant in Dubai on July 8, 2025. (REUTERS)
While Chef Aiman can’t taste, smell or interact with his dishes like a chef normally would, the model works by breaking cuisine down to its component parts like texture, acidity and umami, and reassembling them into unusual flavour and ingredient combinations, according to Aiman’s developers.
These prototypes are then refined by human cooks who taste the combinations and provide direction, in an effort led by renowned Dubai-based chef Reif Othman.
“Their responses to my suggestions help refine my understanding of what works beyond pure data,” Aiman explained, in an interview with the interactive AI model.
The goal, Aiman’s creators say, is not to supplant the human element of cooking but to complement it.
“Human cooking will not be replaced, but we believe (Aiman) will elevate the ideas, creativity,” said Oytun Cakir, who is also chief executive of hospitality company Gastronaut.
Aiman is designed to develop recipes that re-use ingredients often discarded by restaurants, like meat trimmings or fat, he said.
Longer term, WOOHOO’s founders believe Aiman could be licensed to restaurants across the globe, reducing kitchen waste and improving sustainability. (Reporting by Luke Tyson Editing by Ros Russell)