As part of the Riyadh food festival, organized by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) in collaboration with the Tourism Promotion Council of Riyadh Province, the hotel hosted an American food festival for two weeks, starting from Jan. 19 to Feb. 1.

To showcase a quintessential American tradition, the hotel invited aspiring cooks from around the Kingdom to participate in the search for the best muffin.

Contestants had to put together recipes, a detailed list of ingredients and a method of preparation. Furthermore, they were required to produce a muffin that weighed between 70 and 90 grams.

On Feb. 1, the judges tasted five delicious muffins before they chose the winner. The judging panel cosisted of Dr. Janet Breslin-Smith, wife of James B. Smith, U.S. ambassador to Riyadh; Rima Tariq Al-Mukhtar, media presenter; Mr. Stefan Loecherbach, sales manager at Lufthansa, John Haons, American world chef; and William Velasco, executive chef at Hilton Garden Inn in Riyadh.

The judges based their decision on four criteria: Texture, taste, originality and presentation, with each one worth a total of 10 points.

Winning at first place was Dalen Lindque, a South African housewife, who prepared a “banana and dates with dulce de leche” muffin. Her prize includes two round trip tickets to the US, flying with Lufthansa Airlines. Furthermore, her muffin will be served for one whole month in Hilton Worldwide hotels across the Middle East and Africa and for one full year at the Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya. For each muffin sold, the hotel will donate two Saudi riyals to the charity chosen by Lindque.

Coming at second place was Angela Simpson, a housewife from England who prepared a “sticky date” muffin. Her prize includes a weekend trip to the award winning Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort.

“The Riyadh Food Festival was able to shed light on the diverse American dishes, as the kitchen is considered an important pillar in every culture,” said Breslin-Smith.

She also praised the support and sponsorship of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities toward the festival, and the notable organizational level, without neglecting the efforts of Hilton Garden Inn hotel in the presentation of the American cuisine at the festival.

“The representation of the American cuisines at Hilton Garden Inn hotel was extremely honorific, because it reflects the American culture and heritage through serving the most loved American dishes, in addition to adopting the most significant events and competitions that helped the Saudi society to get to know a part of the American society legacy in the field of cookery, whereas the famous muffin contest considered the first figure in the ancient American history,” she added.

On the other hand, Haakon Gaarder-Larsen, general manager of Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh has clarified that the hotel is keen to leave a memorable experience through diverse events and activities associated with the Riyadh Food Festival, as the hotel is perfectly equipped to resemble the American culture and heritage.

“The hotel was so eager to provide numerous interesting activities along with the delicious cuisines, seeing that the hotel has organized a number of interactive activities that give the visitors an opportunity to enjoy different and unique experience such as Harley Davidson motorcycles riding, and the final muffin contest that been recently launched to encourage young talent to showcase their capabilities in cooking the most familiar American cake, as well as supporting them in that premier event during the mid-year leave,” said Gaarder-Larsen.