The relaxing setting and well-curated cuisine of ENCORE is now under the stewardship of Chef Ali Awarky. We meet the new Head Chef and learn about what we can expect from CORE Riyadh’s premiere dining restaurant in the days to come.
Inside ENCORE, one is easily welcomed to their cozy lounge-like setting. Since establishing itself in the DQ, they have become known for their classic seafood offerings such as the nigiri selections, prawns, and calamari. Even their Beverage Bar offers distinctly curated cocktails like the Apasionado or Old Fashion Cinnamon. However, a food renaissance beckons at ENCORE with the arrival of a new head chef, an upcoming menu revamp and additional offers for guests to enjoy.
In early November, ENCORE Restaurant welcomed its new Head Chef, Mr. Ali Awarky. Hailing from Lebanon, Chef Ali has been a professional chef for over 20 years – with 12 of those spent in Saudi Arabia. His expertise is in European cuisine with his training focused on French and Italian dishes. He is excited about joining the ENCORE team and we learned more about him during his interview for DQ Living.
Origins
From a young age, Chef Ali knew that he wanted to be a chef. He is the first from his immediate family to be a chef and he cannot imagine himself in any other career: “Cooking is where I find myself. It allows me to be creative and it’s where I feel most comfortable.” He credits his mother’s cooking as a major influence in his desire to become a chef.
As he widened his horizons through his travels in countries like Turkey and the Maldives, he likes to experience the traditional methods in which their food is prepared. He wants to learn how the flavors in each region differ and gain inspiration from it to translate them in his culinary creations.
Beyond the taste of the dish, he is also passionate about how the food is plated. “I want to treat my plates like a painting. I want to leave my signature on the plate; so that when people see it, they’ll know that it’s a Chef Ali plate.”
Challenges as a Chef
When creating a new menu, Chef Ali says that sourcing products to use is always a challenge, especially when certain ingredients are hard to find. However, that’s where one’s creativity comes in and how a chef can re-imagine a recipe with the ingredients available at hand.
Also, finding a way to cater to the taste preference of various cultures can also challenge any chef because he needs to learn what the guests’ flavor palates are in general. “I like to familiarize myself with the food in the region and from there incorporate it to what our restaurant aims to offer.”
New Menu at ENCORE and More
The Champion Set Menu in honor of the World Cup festivities is the first lead-in of Chef Ali’s direction at ENCORE, offering a balanced set of light and indulgent in the two sets he has prepared. From vegetarian options of Ratatouille Flatbread and Yasai Maki rolls to the indulgent Prawn Tempura and Pulled Short Rib sliders, there’s something for everyone.
The set menu can be enjoyed within the view of the plush, private dining area of the restaurant with their in-house television or at the relaxing outdoor courtyard of CORE, which hosts a large LED-screen and loudspeakers. Both spaces also welcome bookings for private functions and events.
By the first quarter of 2023, Chef Ali plans on launching ENCORE’s new menu which will highlight a more high-casual dining experience; infusing Levant cuisine, elegant burgers and a brunch offering on weekends. He is also envisioning a special menu for the national days of embassies in the DQ where dishes of each country can be featured. Aligned with his goal of always bringing something new to the table, he also plans on having a Chef’s Menu that will showcase his latest innovative recipes.
Finally, when asked what kind of experience Chef Ali wants his guests to have, he responded in the true essence of what ENCORE is all about: “I want them to feel my passion for food, to share the experience and flavors that I have to offer. When they leave, I want them to feel that they want to come back.”
ENCORE is open to all guests. For reservations, contact: +966 508019750 or book via Seven Rooms: https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/COREswc
