One of The Most Renowned Hotels in The World Adds Vegan Female Chefs to Their Team!

The Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh is one of the most renowned hotels in the world, and now after employing women only 2 years ago, becoming the first in the kingdom to do so, female chefs are taking over the kitchen. What is their mission, you may ask? They explain that they wish to “show the world the true meaning of Arabian hospitality by delighting visitors’ palates.”

Working with vegan chef, Al-Maha Al-Dossary, this talented team, including 15 female chefs with more on the way, will be preparing traditional Saudi dishes, as well as International cuisine from Chinese to Italian.

Chef Al-Maha Al-Dossary grew up in Riyadh and decided to pursue her dreams of being a vegan chef after working as a corporate baker. An epiphany led her to the Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in London where she found the bustle of the kitchen to be active and engaging. From there, she applied to the Ritz where she worked her way up from the commissary through every position in the kitchen. She one day hopes to open her own chain of vegan restaurants, and is leading a truly authentic and inspiring journey.

Also on the team are Sushi Chef, Habeeba Abdullah, who has been cooking from the tender age of 11. She says when asked about her ambitions that, “I aspired from the beginning, from cooking at home to cooking worldwide. I now consider myself working in the royal palace.”

Another chef, Chef Um Abdullah Al-Maliki, who is a part of the female-empowered recruitment says that, “I cook with love. Cooking is my passion. The happiness we feel when the serving dishes come back to the kitchen empty is indescribable.”

All of the chefs are persistent in performing to the best of their abilities with a central focus on high work ethic, extreme detail, and a desire to always learn new things by exploring new cuisines. They are extremely passionate about their work, and stay optimistic even during their busiest time of year, Ramadan.

Chef Reem Al-Saeed sums it up perfectly. She says, “All of us have the same dream, which is to have Saudi cuisine featured internationally in restaurants worldwide. That is what we are working hard for.”

Want to try food influenced by Saudi Arabian cuisine?

Enjoy the irresistible tastes of Arabian cuisine that is filled with delicious aromas, appetizing spices, and rich flavors. These recipes from our Food Monster App have been influenced by Middle Eastern cuisine.

Spiced Chickpeas With Harissa and Tamarind 

Harissa, a classic Middle Eastern paste comprised of roasted red peppers, serrano peppers, and hot chili peppers gives these chickpeas a kick. The tamarind helps cut through the spiciness of the harissa and balance out the flavors creating the perfect side dish.

Oven Baked Vegetable Samosas

Samosas, also referred to as sambusaks, are fried savory pastries filled with a spicy array of potatoes, lentils, peas, or onions. These oven baked samosas are filled with a unique combination of flavors and are absolutely mouthwatering.

Herb and Pepper Labneh

Labneh is a popular soft cheese used in Middle Eastern cooking that comes from strained Greek yogurt. This homemade version is rich, creamy, and completely dairy-free!

For more news, we recommend downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for both Android and iPhone and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 10,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!

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