Shaped by the participation of chefs from Saudi Arabia and abroad, the Saudifood Manufacturing 2026 and Saudifood Show 2026 exhibitions in Jeddah gave visitors a direct window into professional culinary practice, from ingredient selection to plated dishes, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Among the sessions, Saudi executive chef, food developer and culinary consultant Bdoor Badr joined Italian chef Simone Marchi for a live cooking experience that brought Italian and Saudi flavors onto the same counter, drawing out the similarities between the two kitchens. Marchi, who has led culinary programs for Italian missions abroad, presented dishes inspired by different regions of Italy as part of Italian Cuisine Week in the World.
The organizers framed the programming around a broader goal: presenting traditional cuisines and dishes as markers of cultural identity, while opening a space for cross-cultural exchange through the introduction of modern ingredients and the creation of new culinary experiences that keep that identity intact.
The cooking sessions ran alongside the exhibition's wider programming in Jeddah, where the two shows are being held from September 27 to 29, 2026 at Jeddah Superdome.