What’s new at
Taste of Dubai? Your favourite food festival is back. And there’s lots of new things to look forward to in this year’s edition.
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t’s that time of the year again when the city’s foodies flock together for three days of culinary bliss at the Dubai Media City amphitheatre. From cooking demos with top chefs, and the opportunity to sample delicacies from leading restaurants, to kids’ activities and live entertainment, it all comes together from March 14-16, in an alfresco-perfect environment. Aside from the usual favourites, whether it’s chefs like Gary Rhodes in attendance and restaurants like Rivington Grill participating, there are lots of new features in this year’s events, to tempt you back through those gates. Here’s what to watch out for:
NEW CELEBRITY CHEFS w Celebrity chef from UK, host of British TV show Cook Yourself Thin’ and author of ‘Gizzi’s Kitchen Magic’ (Virgin books), Gizzi Erskine will be at the Philips Chef’s Theatre and the Kenwood cookery school, in this, her first visit to the UAE. She tells us what we can expect from her at the event:
It will be a insight into how to eat skinny in the week and slightly more wickedly on the weekend. I will be showing some quick fixes for the week and a super speedy but healthy feast for the weekends. I have never been to Dubai so am looking forward to coming over so much. A festival that features music and food is completely up my street, and trying all the Dubai restaurants in one great place is like my idea of heaven. I cannot wait! 120 BBC Good Food Middle East March 2013
w South African celebrity chef and host of her own Food Network show, Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco, Jenny Morris, also known as the Giggling Gourmet, lets us in on what’s getting her excited to be at the event: Dubai is a destination I often travel through, but only occasionally manage to stop off for a visit. At the festival I hope to meet many of my loyal viewers as well as my twitter and Facebook followers from the UAE. In the Chef’s Theatre, I will be demonstrating an Asian-inspired dish and in the Cookery School, a Moroccan-inspired dish. During some of my demonstrations, I’m also going to be partnering with Reza Mahammad, which will give us a chance to not only showcase great recipes, but also have lots of fun in the process. In my spare time I’m hoping to explore some of the markets, shops and restaurants in and around the city.
NEW EVENT Bringing an element of drama into the dining experience is the brand new Dining in the Dark concept. Already popular worldwide, Dining in the Dark is a fun way to test and tantalise not only the tastebuds, but all your senses, with food. At the event, which is hosted by local chef-for-hire and BBC Good Food Middle East contributor Andy Campbell, guests will be blindfolded and asked to sample three canapés accompanied by a glass of wine, then asked to identify 20 ingredients from a list of 100. Those who can correctly answer, based on their sense of taste, texture and smell, will be entered into a draw to win an exclusive fine dining experience at home with Chef Andy, worth Dhs5,000. Participation for this event costs Dhs30.