Recipes for Success: Ghassan Alhadiri — ‘Food is deeply tied to memory and identity’

DUBAI: Saudi pastry chef Ghassan Alhaidari — who goes by the name Ghassan Sugar — has more than a decade of experience in kitchens, culinary development and food production. Based between Jeddah and Riyadh, he works as an executive pastry chef, culinary consultant, and research-and-development specialist across artisan patisserie brands and commercial food manufacturing. His trademark is blending traditional Saudi flavors — including Ajwa dates, green cardamom, saffron, and Taif rose — with modern French pastry techniques.

“My journey began with a deep fascination for the sensory and emotional connections of food — how flavors, aromas and textures evoke memories,” Alhaidari told Arab News. “Growing up surrounded by rich culinary traditions, I was naturally drawn to pastry, viewing it as a space where science and artistry meet.”