Recipes for Success: Chef Saud Aljadhi offers advice and a recipe for mataziz

Saud Aljadhi is the sous chef at The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh Palace. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 02 October 2024
Follow

Recipes for Success: Chef Saud Aljadhi offers advice and a recipe for mataziz

DUBAI: From being a young boy helping his mother prepare Ramadan meals to becoming a sous chef at The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh Palace, Saud Aljadhi’s journey is one of perseverance, passion and overcoming the odds.  

Aljadhi always had a passion for cooking, he says. He would help to prepare salads and soups in his family home near Riyadh.  

In 2014, he launched a food truck business, serving burgers. Its success prompted him to quit his job at the Ministry of Education and pursue cooking full-time.  




Saudi National Day cake. (Supplied)

“I honestly lost a lot — whether financially or socially — but it was all for my passion,” Aljadhi tells Arab News. “It was a one-man show. I was operating alone.” 

Aljadhi’s ambitions led him abroad, first to Canada to study at George Brown College, then to Australia, where he was balancing his studies at Victoria University with working at restaurants while raising his child as a single father.  

“I would drop my son off at kindergarten every morning before going to work. It was quite the challenge,” he recalls. “But I got help from my colleagues, many of whom were single parents as well.” 

Despite challenges like the devastating fires in Australia in 2019, earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Aljadhi’s determination never wavered. He returned to Saudi Arabia in 2022 and landed a position at The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh, fulfilling a long-held dream.  




Chorisia Restaurant. (Supplied)

“I used to say I would come to The Ritz-Carlton and be a sous chef,” he says. “I even have a video from over 10 years ago where I made that promise to myself when I was at the hotel. And today, I’m where I dreamed to be. I even have a video from over 10 years ago where I made that promise to myself when I was at the hotel,” he added. 

“It’s nice to reach your dreams and goals in life. It makes me extremely happy,” he continues. “But I still have a lot of ambitions, and I’m working on a plan to achieve them.” 

While working at The Ritz-Carlton, Aljadhi was selected for Marriott International’s prestigious Tahseen leadership program, aimed at nurturing local talent in Saudi Arabia. “The program taught me a lot,” he said. “I learned leadership skills, teamwork, budgeting and revenue management.” It further solidified his career path, giving him the tools to excel in the hospitality industry, he said. 

Breaking through societal stereotypes as a Saudi male chef, Aljadhi has earned respect and recognition for his accomplishments. “In our tribe, it wasn’t even allowed to work this job,” he shares. “But now, society accepts me after all that I’ve achieved. It has even become a trend now to be a chef.” 

However, he points out, it’s not an easy job. 

“People think chefs just cook, but that’s not true. A chef is like a physician, chemist, mathematician, and engineer all in one. For example, right now, I’m working on a cake that’s three by two meters for Saudi National Day. My team and I are measuring everything down to the millimeter. We’re even manufacturing custom molds that aren’t available in the market just to get this cake built. This job isn’t easy — it requires creativity and precision. Just like an engineer builds a building, we as chefs are building a plate and a dish.” 

Here, Aljadhi discusses local cuisine, his favorite dish to cook, and his management style.    

When you were starting out, what was the most common mistake you made?  

My cutting technique was all wrong. How you hold a knife and cut is so important — it really affects the dish. For example, it can change the ratio of leachate in your ingredients. I used to cut my fingers a lot — I have plenty of scars to prove it. But once I learned the proper technique, everything changed. Now, the first thing I teach my Saudi trainees is how to handle a knife properly. 

What’s your top tip for amateur chefs?  

Specialize in what you love. That’s where you’ll really excel. Find your passion — it might be pastry or baking — and go after it. Focus on what you love and you’ll never get bored. 




Moflaq Hasawi at AlOrjouan. (Supplied)

What one ingredient can instantly improve any dish?  

When it comes to local dishes, ghee is the magic ingredient. As soon as you add it, the dish instantly gets better. We use it in so many things — kabsa, jareesh, and many other dishes. Authentic, local ghee especially has such a unique flavor. And for spices, coriander is my go-to. It works with so many dishes — falafel, kabsa, molokhiya, you name it. It just adds that extra something. 

When you go out to eat, do you find yourself critiquing the food?  

I’m really detail-oriented. For example, I love going to Italian restaurants, but I always notice the little things. If a fork or plate is missing from the table, especially in a fine-dining setting, it makes me feel like I’m not welcome. It might annoy the people I’m with, but I can’t help paying attention to those details. When you’re paying for a meal, you expect everything to be perfect. One thing that really stands out to me is how the flavors in the same dish can sometimes change. Maybe they switched the type of cheese or used a different supplier—whatever it is, I can tell right away. Consistency is key in the restaurant business. If the quality starts to vary, it can really hurt the restaurant. Customers expect the same great dish every time, and if that slips, it can cost the business in the long run. 

What’s the most-common issue that you find in other restaurants?  

Many don’t really understand how much revenue they’re actually bringing in. Not many people seem interested in learning how that financial flow works, even though there’s a lot of government support available to help with it. 

When you go out to eat, what’s your favorite dish to order? 

Neopolitan pizza. I’m actually opening my own pizza business, focused on making authentic pizza, just like in Italy. I learned from the best at a restaurant in Melbourne that’s been specializing in pizza for over 70 years. They taught me how to make pizza, pasta, and tiramisu the traditional way. It’s surprisingly simple, but it’s all about doing it the right way, starting with making the dough from scratch just like the Italians do. 

What’s your go-to dish if you have to cook something quickly at home?  

Something like what I had for dinner last night — steak with asparagus, broccoli and cherry tomatoes. It doesn’t even take five minutes. I just sear the steak for two minutes on each side to get it medium-rare, toss the veggies in the pan, and that’s it. Bon appétit! 

What’s your favorite dish to cook and why?  

I really love making pizza. I let the dough rest for three days to get it just right, and I take great care of it during that time. Everyone knows that when the weekend rolls around, it’s pizza time. I have pretty high standards for my pizza, so I always use the best quality ingredients. It makes all the difference. 

What’s the most difficult dish for you to get right?  

I honestly think Saudi dishes are some of the hardest to make because they take so much time. For example, margoog can take two to three hours, and jareesh can take up to five hours. Sure, you could make them faster, but the flavor just wouldn’t be the same. Kabsa is probably the easiest local dish to make, but even that takes about an hour and a half before you’re ready to eat. 

As a leader, what are you like? 

I love working in a positive, happy environment, and I try to bring that energy to the team. I make sure everyone is happy and satisfied. Of course, when mistakes happen, there are times when I can get frustrated. The first time, I’ll address it kindly. But if the same issue keeps happening, especially when it comes to hygiene, I might get a little irritated. I have to be sharp sometimes because, at the end of the day, I’m the manager. 

When things do get stressful, I do my best to motivate the team and lighten the mood. I want them to present food with joy, not just treat it like another task. They can all cook, but if the food isn’t made with love, it won’t taste as good. The flavor just won’t be there. 

Chef Saud’s mataziz recipe 

INGREDIENTS 

For the lamb broth: 

900g lamb (shoulder or leg, cut into pieces); 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 onion, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, chopped; 3 carrots, cubed; 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed; 1L meat or vegetable stock; 2 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp ground coriander; salt and pepper to taste; fresh parsley or dill for garnish. 

For the mataziz dough: 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp salt; 1 cup warm water (adjust as needed); 2 tbsp olive oil (optional) 

INSTRUCTIONS 

For the lamb broth: 

1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the lamb pieces and leave until browned on all sides. Remove from the pan and set aside. 

2. In the same pan, sauté the chopped onion until soft, then add the garlic and cook for another minute. 

3. Return the browned lamb to the pan. Add the carrots, potatoes, and stock. 

4. Stir in the cumin, coriander, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours until the lamb is tender. 

For the mataziz dough:  

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Gradually add warm water and mix until a dough forms. 

2. Knead on a floured surface for about 5-10 minutes until smooth. Add olive oil for extra flavor and softness, if desired. 

3. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rest for about 30 minutes. This helps to relax the gluten. 

4. Divide the dough into small balls (about the size of a golf ball). 

5. Roll each ball out on a floured surface until very thin (about 1/8 inch thick) and cut to size for the dish. 

6. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. 

7. Cook each rolled out dough for 4-8 minutes on each side until lightly browned and cooked through. They should be slightly puffed. 

SERVING 

Presentation is always an opportunity to show your creativity. My only advice is to reflect nature on the plate. Start with a circle of mataziz dough in the middle as a base for all the vegetables. Don’t forget to add black lemon as it gives a different flavor to the dish. Create a garden around it using meat broth. Add the lamb and add your touch of dill or coriander. The dish should be served hot. 


Gigi Hadid confirms relationship with first photo on social media

Updated 04 May 2025
Follow

Gigi Hadid confirms relationship with first photo on social media

DUBAI: In a new post on social media, supermodel Gigi Hadid has confirmed her long-rumored relationship with partner Bradley Cooper with her first-ever photograph of the couple together.

The US Dutch Palestinian model took to Instagram on Saturday night to share photographs of her 30th birthday party, held in late April in New York. In the carousel of images, Hadid can be seen kissing Cooper while standing behind a tiered birthday cake.

Social media commenters, and news outlets, quickly spotted the post and dubbed it the “hard launch” of their relationship.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid)

Hadid, 30, and Cooper, 50, were first linked in October 2023.

"I feel so lucky to be 30!" Hadid captioned her post. "I feel so lucky for every high and low - for all the lessons and gifts both have brought me. To get to feel it all! I’m so lucky to be a mom, friend, partner, sister, daughter, colleague to some of the most unbelievable humans!!"

"So lucky for the support and encouragement from all of YOU around the world, every day and on my birthday last week," she continued. "I had the best time celebrating, and it’s a blessing to feel so loved!! I am grateful and honored to take on a new decade."

Cooper shares daughter Lea De Seine, 8, with model Irina Shayk while Hadid shares her daughter Khai, 4, with One Direction alum Zayn Malik.

The birthday party was held at Le Chalet in New York City on April 25.

Hadid entered the venue with Oscar nominee Cooper, and met up with her sister Bella Hadid, mother Yolanda Hadid, father Mohamed Hadid, Russian media personality Keni Silva and US actress Anne Hathaway, among others.

Gigi’s birthday was on April 23, and the internet was abuzz with celebrities, designers, family and friends who sent birthday wishes to the supermodel as she turned 30.

Bella shared a carousel of photos on Instagram to celebrate, writing: “IT’S GIGI DAY EVERYONE SAY IT WITH ME. HAPPPYYY 30th BIRTHDAYYYY JELENAAAA.”

Yolanda Hadid, Gigi’s mother, took a moment to reflect on her daughter’s 30-year journey. “Thirty years went by in a flash, 10,950 days to be exact but there hasn’t been one day without you on my mind,” she wrote, sharing photos of Gigi from babyhood to recent moments.


Kevin Hart brings laughs and life lessons to Abu Dhabi with ‘Acting My Age’

Updated 03 May 2025
Follow

Kevin Hart brings laughs and life lessons to Abu Dhabi with ‘Acting My Age’

ABU DHABI: Kevin Hart returned to the stage at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Friday with his signature energy and a new show, following his successful performance there in 2023.

“It’s good to be back,” Hart said, kicking off a night of relentless humor and heartfelt honesty.

As part of the Abu Dhabi comedy festival, Hart performed a classic American standup show mixed with a lot of self-deprecating humor. 

Titled “Acting my Age,” the show is themed around understanding old age and realizing that aging is about gaining experience and wisdom. 

With jokes about his endless injuries and health problems, Hart’s signature facial expressions and animated vocals brought the show to life, and left members of the audience in tears of laughter. 

The show was targeted at an older crowd, and Hart was able to capture their attention with his personal anecdotes. 

Crowd work and audience interactions were missing from his performance and some people yelled out to grab his attention, but he mostly ignored these callouts. 

As usual, his line delivery was on point and he was able to easily transition from one story to the next while maintaining running gags throughout the show, which lasted about an hour. 

Opening for Hart were a group of comedians who go by the name of “Plastic Cup Boyz.” The trio, consisting of Joey Wells, Will “Spank” Horton and Na’im Lynn, delivered an entertaining and captivating opener for the show. 

Hart ended his performance with heartfelt sentiment, saying: “The win in life is old age. Old age is not guaranteed.” 


Maya Akra on the Oscars and making space for Arab voices in Hollywood

Updated 03 May 2025
Follow

Maya Akra on the Oscars and making space for Arab voices in Hollywood

DUBAI: Lebanese actress and comedian Maya Akra has spent years carving out her niche across Beirut and New York. This year, that journey reached a new milestone when “Anora,” a film she appears in, won five Oscars, including Best Picture.

But for Akra, the recognition is just one part of a much longer story.

“I was raised by ‘Comedy Central’ (and) … ‘The Nanny.’ Fran Drescher was my hero,” Akra told Arab News. Her early love of performance was sparked at home, where her father, a filmmaker, recorded endless hours of her childhood on VHS. “Being in front of the camera has been my reality since I was a baby. I have hours of footage from my childhood, sometimes just talking endlessly like I was the host of my own show. Somehow that early lens shaped me,” she said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Maya Akra (Acra) (@mayaacra)

She began performing on stage at a young age, often drawing from real-life experiences marked by grief, resilience and reinvention. After building her career in Lebanon — working behind the scenes at MTV, acting in student films and her comedy sketches going viral — Akra moved to New York to pursue acting and stand-up full-time.

Now part of the city’s vibrant improv and comedy scene, she has performed at venues such as The Stand, Stand Up NY and Broadway Comedy Club.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Maya Akra (Acra) (@mayaacra)

Her acting work includes short films, commercials and theater, often centered around stories of identity and migration. “I’m drawn to stories that spotlight the emotional and cultural struggles of Arab immigrants,” she said.

Akra is passionate about breaking the mold for Arab characters onscreen. “Arab talent is slowly gaining more visibility in Western media… (but) the industry still has a long way to go. Too often, the roles offered to Arab actors are still limited to certain tropes, like the villain, the terrorist or the oppressed woman.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Maya Akra (Acra) (@mayaacra)

“We have so many untold stories that reflect the diversity and success of Arabs in America,” she added.

While “Anora” was not an Arab story, being part of an indie project that defied expectations — and that went on to sweep the Oscars — was a powerful moment for Akra. She had been invited to the ceremony but did not attend.

“I didn’t even watch the ceremony. I had just moved into my apartment. I was in a really emotional place. I had just lost my aunt,” she recalled. “Then suddenly, I got a message: ‘You’re featured in the Best Picture of 2024!’ I was stunned. It felt completely surreal. I was so happy, and I couldn’t stop smiling.”

Looking ahead, Akra is focused on continuing to tell real, layered stories through both comedy and drama. “I carry Lebanon with me into every room,” she said. “I’ll be at the Oscars when I win my own one day. I’m claiming that.”


Ramy Youssef’s ‘#1 Happy Family USA’ comedy hits close to home

Updated 03 May 2025
Follow

Ramy Youssef’s ‘#1 Happy Family USA’ comedy hits close to home

  • Focus on challenges facing Muslim Americans post-9/11
  • Stark reminder that today’s dystopia is no laughing matter

TORONTO: American-Egyptian comedian and actor Ramy Youssef’s first animated venture “#1 Happy Family USA,” on Amazon Prime Video, is a satirical take on the challenges faced by Muslim-American families in a post-9/11 world.

Created with Pam Brady of “South Park” fame, the eight-episode series opens with a darkly comic twist of fate — the Egyptian-American Hussein family is at the airport when news breaks of the World Trade Center attacks.

And from that moment, everything changes. The patriarch and owner of Hussein’s Halal Cart is convinced that “we must work harder at being like them. So, we blend in.”

To fit in, Hussein shaves his beard and pushes the family to “look more American.” Meanwhile, mom Sharon (also known as Sharia) embraces her faith with renewed conviction by donning a hijab.

Twelve-year-old Rumi (voiced by Youssef) finds himself an outcast at school and is now forced to navigate not only the throes of middle school and adolescence, but also the harsh realities of a post-9/11 world.

Each character is so vividly portrayed that you can easily imagine your Arab teta or the local Pakistani imam in the mix. The well-timed vocal interjections and cultural (Arab and American pop-culture) references bring an extra layer of freshness and humor to the show.

Known for his Emmy-nominated “Ramy,” Youssef continues to shed light on the Muslim-American experience.

The show evokes the familiar sentiment of fear. It captures the lived reality of Islamophobia and surveillance in Muslim communities, and explores related themes of identity struggles, microaggressions, and code-switching.

We can laugh at the Hussein family’s antics, but the show serves as a stark reminder that in today’s dystopian and polarized political climate, there is little humor to be found.


UK comedian Russell Brand appears in court on rape charges

Updated 02 May 2025
Follow

UK comedian Russell Brand appears in court on rape charges

  • He faces two counts of rape, two of sexual assault and one of indecent assault
  • Arriving for the first court hearing in the case, Brand made his way slowly through a crush of media and onlookers gathered outside the court

LONDON: British comedian and actor Russell Brand appeared in a London court on Friday to face five charges of rape and other sexual offenses and said.
Brand, 49, who became known internationally as the husband of pop star Katy Perry after forging a career in Britain with his risque comedy routines, was charged last month.
He faces two counts of rape, two of sexual assault and one of indecent assault.
Arriving for the first court hearing in the case, Brand made his way slowly through a crush of media and onlookers gathered outside the court.
The celebrity, dressed casually in a dark colored open-necked shirt and jeans, spoke only to confirm his details before being granted bail and ordered to appear in court again on May 30.
In a video response on X after he was charged, Brand denied all the alleged offenses and said he was “grateful” for the “opportunity” to defend himself.
“I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile, but what I never was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity,” he said in the video.
The charges relate to offenses alleged to have taken place between 1999 and 2005 involving four women.
Prosecutors charged him after a police investigation into allegations following a broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary in September 2023.
London’s Metropolitan Police have said the investigation remains open and urged “anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information” to contact officers.
Brand is charged with the rape of a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area on England’s south coast, as well as the abuse and sexual assault of a woman in 2004 in the Westminster area of central London.
He has also been charged with indecently assaulting a woman in 2001 and sexually assaulting another woman between 2004 and 2005 — both incidents alleged to have taken place in Westminster.
The court confirmed that he lives part of the time in the United States, but Brand also gave an address in the southern English county of Buckinghamshire.
Born in 1975 to working-class parents in Essex, east of London, Brand began his stand-up career as a teenager.
He burst onto the scene as a provocative, often lewd comedian before transforming into a Hollywood star, then an anti-establishment guru and conspiracy theorist who has millions of fans online.
He has almost seven million subscribers on YouTube, 11.3 million on X and 4.8 million on Instagram.
He presented a show on the BBC’s Radio 2 station between 2006 and 2008 but left after an on-air prank when he left a sexually explicit voicemail for “Fawlty Towers” actor Andrew Sachs about his granddaughter.
He also presented a “Big Brother” spin-off show for several years and wrote columns for the left-wing Guardian newspaper and penned two autobiographies.
Brand was married to US star Perry for 14 months between 2010 and 2012.
He is now married to the author and illustrator Laura Gallacher, with whom he has three children.