Where We Are Going Today: Mr. Hakan's restaurant in Jeddah

Photo/Supplied
1 / 3
Photo/Supplied
Where We Are Going Today: Mr. Hakan's restaurant in Jeddah
2 / 3
Photo/Supplied
Where We Are Going Today: Mr. Hakan's restaurant in Jeddah
3 / 3
Photo/Supplied
Short Url
Updated 31 December 2023
Follow

Where We Are Going Today: Mr. Hakan's restaurant in Jeddah

Photo/Supplied

Mr. Hakan's is a breakfast-focused Turkish restaurant with two locations in Jeddah: Al-Hamra and Obhur.

The eatery serves well-known Turkish dishes, including baklava, kebab kush bashi, cheese-stuffed kufta, pita pie in various flavors and Iskandar kebab.

The site has a bakery with offerings including cheese simit, chocolate simit, pide bread and Turkish gozleme.

The restaurant’s welcoming Turkish staff occasionally come together to dance and sing in a fun setting, prompting diners to pull out their phones and capture videos, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. The joyful family vibe at Mr. Hakan's is ideal for celebrations, especially birthdays.

Through the restaurant, the founder hopes to introduce Turkish and Middle Eastern culinary cultures to diners. Mr. Hakan was raised in a culture that was unique to the southern region of Turkey and he brings that experience to the business.

He traveled to the Gulf region for work in 1999, and has received various culinary training during his domestic and international trips.

Mr. Hakan's menu includes some vegetarian selections, ensuring that there is something for everyone.

However, the dining experience can be a pricey, with the bill for three easily exceeding SR700 ($187).

For updates and more details, visit Instagram @mr.hakans.

 


World Halal Food Festival returns to London for ninth year

World Halal Food Festival returns to London for ninth year
Updated 23 September 2024
Follow

World Halal Food Festival returns to London for ninth year

World Halal Food Festival returns to London for ninth year

LONDON: The world’s largest halal food festival returns to London for its ninth year, with organizers anticipating more than 20,000 visitors.

The World Halal Food Festival will take place from Sept. 28-29 at the London Stadium, displaying a wide range of cuisines from around the globe.

The event features a carefully selected lineup of vendors, chefs and food stalls representing countries such as Pakistan, Turkey, Morocco and Indonesia, among others.

Event director Waleed Jahangir spoke to Arab News, noting the growing demand for halal-certified products as the global Muslim population continues to expand.

“The growing interest in ethical, sustainable and high-quality food sources has attracted not just Muslim consumers, but people from all backgrounds to halal food,” Jahangir said.

A new addition this year is the Celebrity Chef Cookery Theatre, hosted by Shelina Permalloo, known for her appearances on ITV’s “Cooking with the Stars.” She will be joined by other top chefs in leading interactive cooking demonstrations. Celebrities such as Nadiya Hussain and Big Zuu, as well as actors from Netflix, are expected to attend the event.

The festival has expanded its family-friendly offerings with an enlarged childrens’ zone and bazaar. It has also partnered with Our Future Health to provide a mobile health clinic on-site, giving attendees the opportunity to participate in health research and have checkups.

“We also encourage discussions and conversations at the festival through interactive panels, giving people from all walks of life a space to connect over shared values of food, culture and community,” Jahangir added.

Organizers emphasized their commitment to supporting a diverse range of businesses, offering smaller, local vendors prime spaces at the festival to ensure they have high visibility.

The “Local Flavours” will focus on artisanal food producers, giving them a platform to show their products to thousands of festival visitors eager to explore new tastes.

 


Where We Are Going Today: ‘ROKA’ Japanese restaurant

Photo/Supplied
Photo/Supplied
Updated 22 September 2024
Follow

Where We Are Going Today: ‘ROKA’ Japanese restaurant

Photo/Supplied
  • The highlight of the evening will be the “Make Your Own” sushi platter experience, allowing guests to create their sushi plate from a premium selection of rolls

Roka in Riyadh and Jeddah is offering a culinary experience that merges tradition with innovation for Saudi National Day.

Guests can indulge in a special aojiru mocktail and a delightful green tea mochi for just SR25 ($6.66) and SR45, respectively. The vibrant atmosphere will be complemented by a live DJ performance from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., making it a great venue for a celebration.

The highlight of the evening will be the “Make Your Own” sushi platter experience, allowing guests to create their sushi plate from a premium selection of rolls. This interactive dining option pays homage to the culinary artistry of sushi-making.

In addition to the National Day festivities, Roka Riyadh has announced an exclusive two-night collaboration with Saudi Chef Nawal Al-Khawali on Sept. 26 and 27.

This limited-time menu will artfully blend the bold flavors of Saudi cuisine with the refined tastes of Japan, providing diners with a fusion culinary experience.

The exclusive set menu, priced at SR380 for dinner, features a variety of dishes. Starters include yellowtail sashimi with yuzu-truffle dressing and rock shrimp tempura seasoned with wasabi peas and chili mayonnaise, in addition to the zaatar roasted cauliflower served with spicy tahini sauce and cauliflower leaf chips.

The pickled date and spinach salad is a delightful blend of textures and tastes, combining the sweetness of dates with crunchy sumac-coated almonds and creamy fried goat cheese.

For the main course, diners can savor an exquisite selection that includes the Red Sea najel fish baked in sayadia spices, tender beef fillet infused with chili and ginger, a unique Japanese barley jareesh hot pot, and a baked potato topped with Saudi truffle.

Desserts are equally impressive, featuring sticky date pudding served with cardamom camel milk gelato, Saudi coffee caramel and miso creme brulee paired with pistachio ice cream.

For updates, check @rokarestaurant.sa on Instagram.

 


Where We Are Going Today: Uskudar Steak House in Riyadh

Where We Are Going Today: Uskudar Steak House in Riyadh
Updated 19 September 2024
Follow

Where We Are Going Today: Uskudar Steak House in Riyadh

Where We Are Going Today: Uskudar Steak House in Riyadh

Uskudar Steak House promises a luxurious dining experience and, with a focus on high-quality meats, it’s a go-to destination for steak enthusiasts in Riyadh.

The outdoor dining area is instantly inviting, with cozy lighting from small table lamps, lush greenery and palm trees creating a tranquil atmosphere. Rustic wooden decking and decorative wall lighting enhance the intimate, elegant vibe. 

You will love their delightful goat cheese salad, a standout starter featuring a refreshing combination of fresh greens and creamy, tangy cheese with perfectly balanced flavors.

For the mains, Uskudar boasts a solid selection of wagyu-based dishes. The wagyu burger is highly recommended — juicy, well-seasoned, and cooked to perfection. Its simplicity allows the quality of the meat to shine through, making it a must-try for burger lovers.

The wagyu spaghetti (marbling 6/7) offers a unique take on pasta, with the richness of the beef adding depth to each bite. The wagyu ribeye (marbling 6/7) doesn’t disappoint either, with its buttery texture and intense flavor, though it might cater more to those with a heartier appetite. 

The restaurant’s commitment to quality is reflected in the in-house meat display. A beautifully arranged selection of premium cuts sits elegantly in a glass case, garnished with sprigs of rosemary. In addition, there is a dedicated aging chamber lined with salt blocks, adding a gourmet touch to their wagyu offerings. 

Delicious baklawa provides a sweet, satisfying end to the evening. However, while the food hits all the right taste buds, the one let-down is the drink — the sweetness of the beverage is overpowering and slightly overshadows the overall experience. 

Uskudar Steak House is a haven for meat lovers and, although it could use some minor tweaks, it is well worth a visit for its top-notch wagyu offerings.

The location is also a plus, with a convenient spot in An Nakheel and plenty of parking available.


Where We Are Going Today: ‘Crust Corner’ in Riyadh

Photo/Supplied
Photo/Supplied
Updated 17 September 2024
Follow

Where We Are Going Today: ‘Crust Corner’ in Riyadh

Photo/Supplied
  • Crust Corner’s herbed chicken bowl, which is served with fluffy white or brown rice, steamed broccoli and carrots, is a perfect light meal for those on the go

Crust Corner is a hidden gem among Riyadh’s gastronomical experiences. From filling salads to nourishing juices, this local joint is worth a try.

Who said healthy food should be boring? Colorful salads are Crust Corner’s specialty while its star dish, Mexican chicken, has the perfect balance of savory flavors of chicken and the creamy chipotle dressing. The texture plays a big role, bringing out the creaminess of the avocado, the crunchy lettuce, and the toasted grilled corn.

The Greek salad is also bursting with authentic flavors. The cool salad is a mix of romaine lettuce, salty feta cheese, addictive cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and tangy kalamata olives. The dish is then topped off with baked za’atar pita and served with a lemony Greek dressing.

Crust Corner’s herbed chicken bowl, which is served with fluffy white or brown rice, steamed broccoli and carrots, is a perfect light meal for those on the go. The chicken is grilled with a mixture of herbs and spices.

To satisfy the sweet tooth, the acai bowl is a great alternative to ice cream. Acai, the purple berries of the South American palm tree, is offered in two different flavors: granola and peanut butter. Each dessert has a topping of fresh fruits such as strawberry, blueberry and banana.

Meals can be paired with one of the outlet’s cold pressed juices. The green detox is a refreshing mixture of kale, celery, rocca, cucumber, green apples, lemon and ginger.

For more details, check @crustcorner on Instagram.

 


Drug-resistant superbugs projected to kill 39 million by 2050

Drug-resistant superbugs projected to kill 39 million by 2050
Updated 17 September 2024
Follow

Drug-resistant superbugs projected to kill 39 million by 2050

Drug-resistant superbugs projected to kill 39 million by 2050
  • Superbugs — strains of bacteria or pathogens that have become resistant to antibiotics, making them much harder to treat — have been recognized as a rising threat to global health

PARIS: Infections of drug-resistant superbugs are projected to kill nearly 40 million people over the next 25 years, a global analysis predicted on Monday, as the researchers called for action to avoid this grim scenario.
Superbugs — strains of bacteria or pathogens that have become resistant to antibiotics, making them much harder to treat — have been recognized as a rising threat to global health.
The analysis has been billed as the first research to track the global impact of superbugs over time, and estimate what could happen next.
More than a million people died from the superbugs — also called antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — a year across the world between 1990 and 2021, according to the study in The Lancet journal.
Deaths among children under five from superbugs actually fell by more than 50 percent over the last three decades, the study said, due to improving measures to prevent and control infections for infants.
However when children now catch superbugs, the infections are much harder to treat.
And deaths of over-70s have surged by more than 80 percent over the same period, as an aging population became more vulnerable to infection.
Deaths from infections of MRSA, a type of staph bacteria that has become resistant to many antibiotics, doubled to 130,000 in 2021 from three decades earlier, the study said.
The researchers used modelling to estimate that — based on current trends — the number of direct deaths from AMR would rise by 67 percent to reach nearly two million a year by 2050.
It will also play a role in a further 8.2 million annual deaths, a jump of nearly 75 percent, according to the modelling.
Under this scenario, AMR will have directly killed 39 million people over the next quarter century, and contributed to a total of 169 million deaths, it added.
But less dire scenarios are also possible.
If the world works to improve care for severe infections and access to antimicrobial drugs, it could save the lives of 92 million people by 2050, the modelling suggested.
“These findings highlight that AMR has been a significant global health threat for decades and that this threat is growing,” study co-author Mohsen Naghavi of the US-based Institute of Health Metrics said in a statement.
The researchers looked at 22 pathogens, 84 combinations of drugs and pathogens, and 11 infectious syndromes such as meningitis. The study involved data from 520 million individual records across 204 countries and territories.
It was released ahead of a high-level AMR meeting at the United Nations scheduled for September 26.
Antimicrobial resistance is a natural phenomenon, but the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans, animals and plants has made the problem worse.