Chef Joe Barza dazzles Jeddah guests with Lebanese recipes

Lebanese Culinary Artist Chef Joe Barza recently provided a master class at Qasr Al-Sharq at the Waldorf Astoria-Jeddah Hilton.

The cooking class started on Jan. 19 and continued till Jan. 23, each day the chef provided guests with three sessions. Chef Barza, in collaboration with the Waldorf Astoria’s Qasr Al-Sharq’s Executive Chef Fieras Kouzaiha, delighted guests with a Lebanese family-style cuisine gala dinner that took place at Mataam Al-Sharq.

The five-star chef took participants into the Hilton’s kitchen to learn and enjoy everything from appetizers to main dishes. In this master class, guests learned how to take their cooking to the next level.

On Jan. 19, dinner at the Jeddah Hilton was held outdoors next to a waterfall. Chef Barza delighted guests with a Lebanese buffet including live stations featuring BBQ and homemade favorites.

Chef Barza conducted two cooking classes on Jan. 20 for 40 attendees where he offered guests mouth-watering recipes by reinventing well-known Middle East recipes and adding his own unique touch to each dish.

Here are some of the special recipes that Chef Barza delivered to this class: Kale shanklish salad as an appetizer, chicken breast with zaatar crust and yellow rice served with yogurt sauce, and for dessert, Chef Barza showcased a mouthwatering pink rose-flavored fudge (mouhallabieh) with caramelized apple.

On Jan. 23, Chef Barza took over Al-Safina breakfast and showcased some of his favorite Lebanese breakfast dishes.

Barza, an international master celebrity chef, is renowned for his specialization in Lebanese cuisine.

With more than 30 years of professional cooking and kitchen management experience, Chef Barza proudly positions himself as the Lebanese Terroir Culinary Artist.

Backed with years of professionalism, dedication, and achievements, in 2009 Barza introduced his brainchild, the “Joe Barza Culinary Consultancy” specializing in food and beverage consultancy, kitchen design, recruiting services, and training activities.

For Barza, each project is a challenge and a quest to seek new boundaries and introduce new signature culinary trends; this is why his portfolio is home to over 30 brands and he has numerous consultancies and endorsements.

In addition to being featured on major international media channels including CNN and The New York Times, Barza won the World Champion title for Tuna in Carlo Forte, Sardinia, and received many international recognitions and awards including but not limited to the “Master Chef” designation in 2010.

He was also appointed as a jury member in many international culinary competitions and head judge in the Emmy Award-winning television show “Top Chef” in its Middle Eastern version in 2011. Other major achievements include being selected as regional brand ambassador for Procter & Gamble, Hilton Middle East, and NKD Pizza.

Thanks to Barza, Lebanese cuisine today competes on an international scale and is ahead of many worldclass kitchens when it comes to taste and quality.

When photography meets cooking, the results are extraordinary. This is why Barza, in partnership with renowned photographer Roger Moukarzel, launched Kitchinet.com, an online cooking hub for professionals and amateurs.

It is through perseverance, hard work, attention to detail, implementation of international standards, training, and collective improvement, that Barza’s dreams are now being realized.