Denmark is a world-class culinary country, and the incredible culinary evenings hosted by the Royal Danish Embassy have become a delightful tradition in the Diplomatic Quarter. This year, the Royal Danish Embassy hosted An Evening of Danish Flavours; guests were invited to savor Danish chef Christian Pedersen’s delicacies prepared with Saudi ingredients. In her opening remarks, Ambassador Liselotte Kjærsgaard Plesner paid due tribute to Denmark as home to some of the best restaurants in the world: restaurants like Noma have been voted the best restaurants in the world 5 times, and 32 Danish restaurants have a total of 45 Michelin stars.
“Our team at the embassy wanted to celebrate the achievements of the Danish culinary scene over the last two decades. Good food brings us together as human. It is also our hope that this evening brings a bit of inspiration from Denmark to Saudi Arabia – from one Kingdom to the other,” stated Ambassador Plesner, thereby inviting guests to enjoy the unique ambience of the evening.
The dishes, carefully crafted by Chef Pedersen, told the story of Denmark as a leading culinary nation. Four different stations were presented, covering Danish pickling techniques, sustainability, food waste, and organics. While guests enjoyed the dishes and the unique connection that comes from sharing a meal, Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah’s Executive Chef Christian Pedersen, with more than 20 years of experience in leading luxury hotel restaurants worldwide, shared his culinary insight with DQ Living readers.
“Even though it was my first time in Saudi Arabia, I was given the rather positive challenge of cooking Danish dishes using Saudi ingredients. It was a really interesting experience of 80-20% combination of products and presentation to such a diverse community in the Diplomatic Quarter.” When Chef Pedersen was asked to share his first impressions of Saudi Arabia and the Diplomatic Quarter, he noted that the first and foremost positive experience was the feeling of safety and security of the country and the welcoming attitude of the Saudis.
Reflecting on the food as a way to promote diplomacy and his role in this, Chef Christian replied: “I believe that I was invited to host this very symbolic evening because of my experience working from the Indian Ocean to the Middle East and Europe. Then, my role can be seen in knowing the products and promoting Danish sustainability in whatever country I work in at the moment. Regarding the role of food in diplomacy, I think that eating together is the best way to start communication and conversation. A conversation can start with simple thoughts about the ingredients of a particular dish and develop into something profound.”
The evening turned out to be truly marvelous: the best products from Danish food companies were presented and served. With a mouthwatering menu, vibrant guest interactions, and a passion for creating memorable affairs, the Royal Danish Embassy in Saudi Arabia has completed yet another reception, attesting once again that Denmark is a world-class gourmet destination.
