By Zenha K
When it comes to world-class hospitality and luxury, Jeddah Marriott Hotel Madinah Road, proves itself to be the best and stands as a beacon of excellence. When the time for iftar arrives, Olive Tree Restaurant at the Jeddah Marriott Madinah Road turns into a haven of indulgence and festivity, offering its guests a memorable stay bursting with tradition and luxury. Every evening, the hotel’s dining venue comes alive, with a wide and vibrant array of food from different cultures. From traditional foods to Middle Eastern flavors, all the way to international assortments, Olive Tree Restaurant at the Jeddah Marriott Hotel Madinah Road offers a symphony for the taste buds.
But, who makes these delightful dishes?
That is where our dear chef, Chef Yousef Alasmi, comes in. he is the mastermind behind Marriot’s extravagant buffet. Known for his attention to great details, he has worked in some of the most respected kitchens of the middle east.
Today, we interviewed him to learn more about this year’s Ramadan feast at Olive Tree Restaurant at the Jeddah Marriott Hotel Madinah Road.
Q: Could you walk us through this year’s iftar menu at Olive Tree Restaurant at the Jeddah Marriott Madinah Road?
For Iftar, we have an assortment of different live stations, like the shawarma station, mutabbaq station, and falafel station. Also provided are different types of cuisines, and my personal favorite, ma’soob. I feel that in Saudi, a table cannot be set without either ma’soob or mutabbaq, for it is simply delicious and fulfilling. We also have kibbeh and different staples of Saudi food. We also serve an array of mixed grill stations, which I feel, is very important in the buffets of Saudi Arabia. I find the tandooris quite extravagant.
Q: Do you offer any dietary choices?
(laughs) you know, in Ramadan, people don’t diet, it is like the best month, because it’s similar to cheat days, but stretched into a month, haha. But of course, we do have staples of different healthy serves.
Q: Do you come up with specialties and different selections for iftar, during this month?
Yeah, absolutely. Every day is a day for a new menu. We use rotating set menus to curate every one of our special dishes to reflect the flavors of Ramadan. Our goal is to make sure our guests can look forward to trying and loving new dishes every day. It’s about making every iftar with us memorable and loved.
Q: What if a guest asks for a customized menu for an event?
Yeah, ofcourse we can do that. you can either choose from the banquet menu, or ask for a customized menu.
Q: If you had to recommend a dish from the menu, what would it be?
Personally, I’m a big fan of jaarish and maybe hab hab soup as a side dish. It just makes the iftar fulfilling for the stomach and for the heart. The taste just fascinates me and drives me to search for ways to enhance the flavor and joy of this simple arab dish. Sometimes, I feel like it should be more well-known and appreciated, but of course, it is well loved, here in the land of the Middle East. (laughs) but sometimes, I also like to enjoy perhaps some rich, creamy ma’soob.
