Local and regional cuisine to be showcased in first ever “Flavours of AlUla”

A unique and immersive culinary journey is on the cards for food lovers at Flavours of AlUla, a fun and colourful celebration of food, flavour and art that is being held from December 29 to January 14 as part of the Winter at Tantora events.

Flavours of AlUla will showcase traditional local and regional cuisine and ingredients through a range of experiential masterclasses with renowned chefs, food stalls and fun activations that will make for a truly multisensory experience. High-profile chefs are participating at “Flavours of AlUla” in a series of masterclasses hosted in the Master Arena, an area designed for knowledge sharing.

Budding chefs and foodies will be able to learn a range of new skills, with workshops ranging from cooking on sand, to using the local organic superfood in the “Benefits of Moringa” sessions, a plant packed with iron, calcium and antioxidants. Other classes include sushi rolling, edible pottery, fruit decoration and food as art, with workshops catering for all age groups. There are also masterclasses on using “Food as a Visual Art” and “Edible Pottery” in a diverse schedule that also includes ‘kitchen hack’ sessions.

The sessions will include celebrated chefs and personalities such as Karim Bourgi, the co-founder of Kayu and Calla, giving a live-cooking chef show and setting a workshop on food as a visual art on the first weekend. He will also be animating the mystery box competition. Other local chefs and personalities such as Omar Alwatban, Areej AlShareef, Samira Sadiq, Ghofran Alromaihy and Arwa Ali, who will be sharing their wisdom and knowledge.

Other activities at Flavours of AlUla include a Black Box experience; a blindfold test sure to challenge perceptions of food, and a tour of mystery boxes which will put the sense of smell to the test. A special recreational area also features a legacy tree, offering visitors the chance to share and exchange their recipes. The child-friendly area also features fruit decorations, and traditional games which incorporate healthy fruit and veg pieces.

The diverse and rich variety of AlUla produce will also be showcased in different ways, with ingredients being used at stalls showcasing everything from Arabic and Asian-inspired dumplings, through to bubble tea, organic bowls, veggie rolls and more.

Flavours of AlUla is a family-friendly event and children will be kept well entertained throughout in a special recreational area. Kids can learn the art of dried fruit decoration, or literally ‘play with their food’ with some fun edible games including edible tic tac toe and checkers. While a series of workshops for kids will focus on fun topics such as Smiley Sandwiches, Cookie Monsters, Hero Sauces and more, allowing young chefs to master some great techniques while also learning that the kitchen can be fun.

Knowledge sharing is an important aspect of Flavours of AlUla, and a Legacy Tree in the recreational area will offer all visitors a focal point to share unique, international, local, and special family recipes. Flavours of AlUla is part of Winter at Tantora Festival which runs from December 22, 2022 to January 21, 2023. The event will take place in AlUla Oasis, from December 29 to January 14 from 4pm until midnight.

Flavours of AlUla is free to walk around, with food stalls and certain activities operating a voucher system. Vouchers can be purchased directly at the venue. Winter at Tantora features a variety of music concerts, exclusive culinary experiences and restaurants by world-class chefs, new luxury fashion retails and the 2nd edition of the AlUla Citrus Festival. As part of the AlUla Moments calendar, Winter at Tantora celebrates local and international cultures, offering a unique opportunity to discover the secrets of this extraordinary destination.