Agenfood – 21/01/2026

At Sigep World in Rimini, Saudi Arabia returns to the spotlight with the Taste of Saudi Culture Pavilion, presented by chef Maria Caterina Gamba, ambassador of gastronomic dialogue between the two countries.

At the Rimini trade fair, which brought together over 1,300 brands from 45 countries, the Saudi Kingdom returned as a protagonist following its experience as guest country in 2025, with a pavilion featuring twelve companies producing coffee, tea, and dates. Italian chef Maria Caterina Gamba, who collaborates with her Saudi colleague Marya Kayal, illustrated the exchange project between the two gastronomic cultures, summarizing her mission as follows: “I build bridges between cultures through food.” At the heart of the initiative, already presented at Artigiano in Fiera, is the pairing of Saudi dates with Italian cheeses, from pecorino romano to taleggio. Gamba highlighted Saudi excellence in date production, with around one hundred native varieties offering entirely natural sweetness. Date paste, she explained, can also be used in pastry-making as an alternative to reduce refined sugar consumption.

Read the full article: https://www.agenfood.it/eventi/sigep-arabia-saudita-protagonista-lo-racconta-chef-gamba-dal-taste-of-saudi-culture-pavilion/