TOQUE OF THE TOWN

An Ode to good food made by great people. A good dish is usually the coming together of passion, skill, and impeccable ingredients. And lately, Saudi Arabia is undergoing a gastronomic evolution that’s putting these creations front and center. Food has always been a way to capture a nation’s identity. And at Destination, we have always been fascinated by how it’s able to bring people together, and with that, cultures as well. Throughout the years, we’ve seen the dining landscape transform. What we loved the most about it is how the change is being led by real people who simply loved food as much as we do. We were ecstatic to find out that Goody, one of the luminary brands behind the evolution of food culture shared our vision of celebrating culinary champions in the Kingdom. For their 50th Anniversary and just in time for Saudi National Day— Goody has chosen to partner up with Destination KSA to create this special dining feature. Together, we’re recognizing chefs and passionate foodies who are elevating local cuisine to the next level. These culinary mavericks have created innovative dishes that seamlessly marries authentic Saudi flavors with global techniques and cuisines. They are pushing boundaries in the local dining scene, crafting a space for creative gastro-explorations and tickling our taste buds with imaginative creations. Toque of the Town is a collaborative effort between both teams, where we have sought to find and select some of the leading food innovators in the country. Five of which, clinching the top ranks based on their dishes and professional achievements. Discover new territories through the creations they have shared in this issue. However, the search does not stop here, and we’ve shortlisted 10 others who share the same merits. 35 other slots are remaining, which we leave for you, our dear readers to fill and share with us. Let us know who among the rising stars of the culinary scene deserves a spot. May this special edition make you appreciate the gastronomical Goody-ness around you and inspire you to create your soulful masterpieces.