More than 60 junior chefs and F&B professionals from top local hotels and restaurants in Jeddah and Riyadh have learned the secrets of French butter in three workshops hosted by the European Union and the French Dairy Board.
The workshops featured Chef Dimitri Esposito, Executive Pastry Chef at Jumeirah Al Qasr Hotel, Dubai, who demonstrated innovative recipes with modern twists on classic French desserts such as Salted Caramel Eclair, Raspberry and Rosewater Sable Breton and French Toast Crème Brulé. He also showed how to use butter in different ways to enhance the taste and texture of the dishes.
The participants also discovered the journey of French butter, from the happy, healthy grass-fed cows at the farm to the unique churning process that produces the golden ingredient served on tables worldwide.
“It was a pleasure to share my passion for French butter with such an enthusiastic group. They are the future of the Saudi F&B industry, and I hope they will use their new skills and knowledge to create amazing dishes with gastronomic butter,” said Chef Dimitri.
The chefs received certificates from the French Dairy Board after tasting the delicious recipes they had prepared.
Ghofran al Romaihy, Owner of Sesam for Artisan Pastries, said: “I was amazed by the quality and versatility of French butter. It really makes a difference in the flavour of a dish. I’m grateful to Chef Dimitri for his tips and tricks. I can’t wait to apply them in my kitchen with my team.”
The initiative by the European Union, which also took place in the UAE, Kuwait and Lebanon, supports Saudi Vision 2030 as the country aims to boost its tourism sector, with the restaurant industry being a key component. As chefs in Saudi Arabia and the region seek to improve their techniques and meet customer expectations, they are looking for quality ingredients such as French Butter.
Marie-Laure Martin, International Communication Director from CNIEL, said: “We are delighted to partner with chefs in Saudi Arabia and the region as they develop their unique culinary identity. We believe that gastronomic Butter can help them achieve excellence and creativity in their dishes.”
