Starters News nibbles MENU DECODER LAO CUISINE
Lao cuisine is the cuisine of Laos, which is distinct from other Southeast Asian cuisines. Saiphin Moore, who owns Lao Café in London, explains all you need to know about the ever-popular cuisine. Expect zingy salads, curries, sticky rice, grilled meat and lots of herbs.
CREATIVE CULINARY CONCEPT Kitchen Nation, a fully equipped culinary incubator has opened its doors in the UAE; encouraging foodie entrepreneurs and innovators to bring their unique concepts to the F&B market. As an aid to those creative chefs lacking resources, Kitchen Nation aims to provide a platform to nurture their talent through joined services and a support system. Located in Jumeirah Lake Towers, Kitchen Nation is committed to bringing bootstrap entrepreneurs together under the same roof and giving them a helping hand to take the first courageous step. “This kitchen is not a charity, but an empowering community transformation,” said Rami Salous, Founder and CEO of Kitchen Nation. Visit kitchennation.ae.
A FESTIVAL FOR FOODIES
Bamboo shoot salad (Soup-nor-mai) Made from grilled young bamboo shoots, which are shredded, mixed with chilli flakes, lime juice and fermented fish sauce, and garnished with toasted rice, spring onions and coriander. Banana flower/Blossom (Hua-plee) Used in many curries and soups. It is best picked before the tree produces any fruits, so that the flower meat is more flavoursome. Banana leaf (Bai-tong) Used when steaming in dishes, from sticky rice to ‘mok’ (steamed curry paste). Dill (Pak-chi-Lao) This was introduced during the French occupation and has become a key ingredient. Fermented fish sauce (Pla-raa) Usually made from anchovies, and used in salads and curries as a base, adding an umami flavour.
Dubai Food Festival (DFF), Dubai’s annual citywide culinary celebration, will return from February 23 to March 11, offering a 17-day programme of events, activities, promotions and appearances by a host of celebrity chefs. Don’t miss the Etisalat Beach Canteen at Sunset Beach – it’s free to attend and will bring a fiesta of food, entertainment, sport, fitness and family fun throughout the festival. From February 23 to March 4, the Miele Dubai Restaurant Week will see 15 of Dubai’s high-end restaurants offers a limited edition three-course set menu for Dhs199 – booking now available through RoundMenu. Restaurants participating include Bread Street Kitchen at Atlantis, The Palm, Pierchic, Scape Restaurant & Bar at the Burj Al Arab, Marina Social, Social by Heinz Beck, Rhodes W1 and more. Visit roundmenu.com/dubai/restaurant-week.
Grilled sticky rice (Khao-jee) Although steamed sticky rice accompanies most meals, grilled sticky rice is a special treat. It is shaped onto a skewer, dipped in egg yolk, then grilled over charcoal. Mixed mushroom curry (Gang-hed) A hot, spicy curry made with foraged mushrooms, the juice from yanang leaves, lemongrass, galangal, chillies and dill. Pickled crab (Phoo-na) Field crabs, found in rice fields, are salted and pickled, and mostly used in papaya salad.
February 2017 BBC Good Food Middle East 7