The Saudi Tourism Authority’s consumer brand Saudi, Welcome to Arabia concludes the preview of The Saudi Table, an immersive culinary residency curated by Chef Kunal Kapur at One8 Commune, Golf Course Road. Conceived as a strategic cultural introduction to Saudi Arabia’s contemporary food identity, the preview brought together senior editors, food journalists, cultural commentators, creators and hospitality leaders, including Shivesh Bhatia, Niki Mehra Madan, Ashna Sharma, Chef Afshan and several prominent voices from the Delhi-NCR culinary and cultural community.
Speaking on the culinary crossover, Chef Kunal Kapur said, “Saudi is a land of many wonders. From the coral reefs in the Saudi Red Sea to the snow-dusted peaks of Tabuk, every corner has a story to tell—of adventure, heritage and especially of food passed down quietly like an heirloom, generation after generation. In many ways, this is where India and Saudi meet, in a shared appreciation for food, culture and tradition. India’s ‘Atithi Devo Bhavah’ finds its reflection in the Saudi concept of ‘Hafawa’, a practice rooted in generosity, warmth and unmatched hospitality. The Saudi Table is a celebration of this connection.”
Anchored in ingredient integrity and shaped by centuries of Indo–Arab exchange, the preview invited guests to experience Saudi cuisine through a relaxed, communal format that emphasised provenance, regional diversity and evolving culinary creativity. Rather than theatrical presentation, the evening foregrounded context—highlighting the role of trade routes in shaping flavour, the continuity of home-style cooking and the quiet confidence of a cuisine both ancient and newly emerging on the global stage.
The experience opened with a grazing table reflecting the foundations of Saudi dining, with dips, grains, greens and breads arranged for sharing. Dishes included kareef salad with pomegranate molasses, Hijazi-style tabbouleh, wild za’atar labneh, baba ganoush, roasted carrot and date salad, and date-based preparations such as Madinah date and almond bites and date-cardamom cake, offering insight into the region’s agricultural heritage.
A progression of small plates showcased everyday Saudi cooking without dilution or embellishment, featuring aubergine-wrapped halloumi, cheese sambusas, za’atar manakish, cottage cheese and chicken shawarma, lamb kawarma meatballs, stuffed chicken wings with dried fruit and wild rice, and Gulf-style shrimp with harissa. The large-format dishes—kabsa, mansaf lamb, saffron rice with seafood, seafood pilaf and mushroom sheesh taouk with mujaddara—embodied the ceremonial abundance central to Saudi hospitality. Desserts such as warm kunafa, rose-and-pistachio panna cotta and baklava concluded the experience with characteristic restraint.
Chef Kunal Kapur’s curation was noted for its discipline and fidelity to source, highlighting the cuisine’s reliance on spice rather than heat, its balance of acidity and sweetness, its emphasis on texture and its long-standing culture of shared, community-led dining.
The preview also introduced Saudi’s new culinary-focused travel packages for the Indian market. Starting at ₹74,000, these itineraries are designed for travellers seeking to understand destinations through food, markets, traditions and everyday life. The journeys are available through Saudi’s travel partners including EaseMy Trip, MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Akbar Travels, Riya Holidays and Atlas.
The Jeddah itinerary explores the rhythm of a historic trading city through dawn fish markets, Al-Balad bakeries, heritage seafood institutions and Hijazi home-cooking experiences. Riyadh’s programme focuses on Najdi hospitality and contemporary capital culture, spanning Diriyah’s restored quarters, souks, coffee traditions and desert dining beneath the Tuwaiq cliffs. AlUla offers farm-to-table meals, oasis experiences, date markets, heritage cafés and chef-led dining set against its dramatic sandstone landscape.
Collectively, these itineraries reinforce the central idea of The Saudi Table—that cuisine is among the most revealing expressions of culture, carrying memory, migration, landscape and identity.
The Saudi Table is open to the public until 18 December 2025 at One8 Commune, Golf Course Road, offering diners across Delhi-NCR an opportunity to experience Saudi Arabia’s culinary traditions first-hand.
