Jumeirah | October 2015

M

A

G

A

Z

I

N

E

Anil Kapoor

An exclusive interview with the Bollywood star

Roman holiday

Explore classic highlights and hidden gems

Chocolate art

Sample sweet dishes in London

PIERCE BROSNAN “There have been tragedies, but I’ve also had great fortune in life”

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands | ION Orchard Burlington Arcade Pacific Place | ifc mall | 1881 Heritage Shoppes at Four Seasons | The Promenade at Galaxy Macau Gaysorn | Siam Paragon | CentralWorld Cheongdam-dong MISAN Building | Hyundai COEX | Lotte World Tower | Lotte Avenuel Galleria Luxury Hall BUSAN Lotte Busan ISTANBUL Zorlu Center DOHA The Pearl

SINGAPORE LONDON HONG KONG MACAO BANGKOK SEOUL

LONDON 18-19 Burlington Arcade, Mayfair www.KWANPEN.com

Maximo Riera: The Animal Chair Collection Enjoy the splendor of nature with The Animal Chair collection by Mรกximo Riera.

Featuring several new selections created exclusively for Cities, these majestic pieces will soon be available in Dubai courtesy of Cities. Experience the Animal Chair collection at the following events: Mรกximo Riera: A Retrospective Hosted by Cities at Mine Gallery | November 12-16, 2015 Cities at Big Boys Toys | November 18-21, 2015 DUBAI, U.A.E: The Galleria Mall - Jumeirah - Al Wasl Road T: +971 4 34 34 301 - info@citiesdubai.com RIYADH, KSA: Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz Road (Tahlia Street) next to Roche Bobois T: +966 11 218 0007 - info@citiesriyadh.com cities-design-and-lifestyle-store www.citiesstore.com

citiesdubai

citiesriyadh

Our spirit of excellence.

Senator Observer

Senator Observer. Precision at first sight: The Senator Observer takes up the features of historical observation watches. Super-LumiNova coating on the hands, numerals and indexes assures optimal legibility. The harmonious arrangement of the small seconds, power reserve and Panorama Date displays lends the dial its clear face. The heart of the watch beats with the precise rhythm of an automatic manufactory movement.

Glashütte Original Boutique ”The Dubai Mall“ Financial Centre Street ⋅ 00971 04 3 39 87 62 ⋅ glashuttedm@rivoligroup.com Glashütte Original Boutique ”The Burjuman Centre“ The Burjuman-Centre Dubai ⋅ 00971 04 3 86 74 06 ⋅ Glashutte.burjuman@rivoligroup.com

Jumeirah Corporate Office, Al Sufouh Rd, PO Box 73137, Dubai, UAE, Tel: +971 4 366 5000, Fax: +971 4 366 5001.

Website: www.jumeirah.com Jumeirah is a trading name of Jumeirah International LLC. A Limited Liability company.

Registration Number 57869.

Share Capital Dhs 300,000 fully paid up.

Image: Greg Williams / August

Jumeirah Magazine

october 2015<<

Jumeirah International LLC its affiliates, parent companies and subsidiaries (“Jumeirah Group”) and the publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this publication for whatever reason, however caused.

The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of Jumeirah Group or of the publishers.

Readers are advised to solicit advice before acting on the information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances. Jumeirah Group and the publishers take no responsibilty for the goods and services advertised. All materials are protected by copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (Including photocopying or storage in any medium by electronic means) without the written permission of the copyright owner, except as may be permitted by applicable laws.

Editor-in-Chief

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Managing Partner & Group Editor

lan Fairservice Editorial Director

Gina Johnson Goup Editor

Sophia Serin Art Director

Karen Evans Editor

Danae Mercer danae@motivate.ae Picture Editor

Janelle Salangsang Contributors

Olivia Cuthbert, Rachel Ingram, Neha Kale, Phill Tromans Publisher – Luxury & Lifestyle

Negar Ghodstinat negar@motivate.ae General Manager – Production

S Sunil Kumar Production Manager

R. Murali Krishnan Production Supervisor

Venita Pinto Chief Commercial Officer

26 36

Contents Monitor

Essential news and previews 19 City Watch Discover exclusive events around the world

Anthony Milne Group Sales Director

Craig Wagstaff

26 Black Week Turkey Crime fiction authors come to Istanbul

Group Sales Manager

Ziad Saleh ziad@motivate.ae Abu DhAbi OffiCE Publisher

28 No White Walls This Abu Dhabi exhibition highlights new UAE artists

Imane Eddinari for Jumeirah

Piers Schreiber

Head Office: Media One Tower, Dubai Media City, PO Box 2331, Dubai UAE, Tel: +971 4 427 3000, E-mail: motivate@motivate.ae Dubai Media City: Office 508, 5th Floor, Building 8, Dubai, UAE, Tel: +971 4 390 3550, Fax: +971 4 390 4845 Abu Dhabi: PO Box 43072, UAE, Tel: +971 2 677 2005, Fax: +971 2 677 0124, E-mail: editor-wo@motivate.ae London: Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER, UK, E-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai

Featured 32 Lessons in Love Pierce Brosnan talks fame and marriage 36 Anil Kapoor An exclusive interview with this beloved Bollywood star 40 Keep on Keepin’ on A blind prodigy plays the piano

october 2015<<

Contents 51

Lifestyle 46 The Dish A famous chef’s new restaurant in Abu Dhabi 51 The Art of Chocolate This London event satisfies any cravings 56 Pearl Lam Explore art with China’s iconoclast 60 Dubai Watch Week The Middle East’s first ever global watch event

Travel 64 Life in the Fast Lane Travel through Europe with Audi 68 When in Rome Enjoy classics and hidden gems 78 Secret Spaces Escape into luxury at Jumeirah Vittaveli

68

82 The High Life Dine on delicious food at the newly opened Der Keller

BOULEVARD JUMEIRAH EMIRATES TOWERS SOUK MADINAT JUMEIRAH MALL OF THE EMIRATES DUBAI MALL

City Watch

Explore some of the finest events happening this month

Dubai/abu Dhabi Dubai DesigN Week 26 to 31 october aiming to establish Dubai as the regional capital for design, Dubai Design Week is a key meeting point for the Gulf and international design community. take part in over 60 events, activities and special projects showcasing the best up-and-coming and established design talent at the new Dubai Design District.

Forward thinking

Dubai Design Week, Dubai Design District, dubaidesignweek.ae

22 to 25 october

Biannual fashion event Fashion Forward showcases the best design talents from across the UaE, Middle East and beyond. Get front row tickets to a runway show, shop for jewellery and accessories in the Garden or join panel discussions with some of the biggest names in the industry to gain exclusive inside knowledge.

Whether you’re a budding designer or a fashion expert, there’s something for everyone.

Fashion Forward, Madinat Jumeirah, fashionforward.ae

The Nile ProjecT

compiled by: Rachel Ingram. Images: Getty

29 october

a Night at the Movies 9 october

For its 2015-16 season opener, NSO Symphony Orchestra presents ‘a Night at the Movies’ featuring music from popular movies including blockbusters such as Gladiator and Star Wars and classic film productions like Pink Panther and Disney’s Fantasia. a great night for music and film lovers alike, the one-off concert also features a world premier of a new concert version of James Griffiths’ film score the Drift, plus a special headline performance by Yemeni singer Balqees Fathi.

the UaE premiere of The Nile Project will see some of the philanthropic organisation’s top performers take to the stage at NYUaD arts centre. It’s an excellent opportunity to witness talented musicians from 11 african countries mastering ancient instruments such as the Ethiopian masenko, the Egyptian ney and the Ugandan adungu.

the Nile Project, NyuaD arts Centre, nyuad.nyu.edu

NSO Symphony Orchestra presents a Night at the Movies, Emirates Palace, nsouae.org

19

London

Raven GiRl 6 to 24 October A beautiful ballet production telling a story inspired by fairytales and science, Raven Girl, presented by The Royal Ballet, is an impressive performance.

Performed at the Royal Opera House for seven days only during October, the ballet is likened to Swan Lake due to its story-led yet surreal acts. It’s a unique piece of visual theatre.

Contemporary art 14 to 17 October

Frieze London is one of the world’s pivotal contemporary art fairs. An essential date in the diary for artists and art collectors alike, visitors can explore works from a carefully curated selection of contemporary art galleries and take part in a programme of interactive projects, events and insightful talks with experts.

Frieze London, Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, friezelondon.com

The Royal Ballet presents Raven Girl, Royal opera House, roh.org.uk

FOOd GlORiOus FOOd 1 to 31 October London has one of the most impressive restaurant scenes in the world and London Restaurant Festival is the perfect excuse to indulge your glutinous side in the best the city has to offer. The festival takes place for one month across the Big Smoke, during which Michelin-starred restaurants and trendy neighbourhood bistros present special festival menus, wine pairings and tasting evenings.

London Restaurant Festival, various locations, londonrestaurantfestival.com

Motor show 31 October

The largest free car show in the UK, the Regent Street Motor Show presents an impressive selection of new and classic cars spanning 125 years of motoring history. One of London’s most famous roads, Regent Street, will be closed for the day as motoring enthusiasts and car owners meet to share their passions for motoring and browse the models on display. Don’t miss the pre-1905 veteran cars at the EFG International Concours d’Elegance.

Regent Street Motor Show, Regent Street, regentstreetmotorshow.com

20

THE DUBAI MALL, DUBAI | EL-KHAYYAT CENTER, JEDDAH

Cordially invites you to view their latest collection at ISTANA, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach from October 21st - 24th 2015 from 10 am - 10 pm

Shanghai/iStanbul

Fireworks festival 1 to 6 October

Start the month off with a bang with music and fireworks at the Shanghai International Fireworks and Music Festival. Lighting the city for six nights in a row, the highly anticipated annual celebration is one for the family.

Shanghai international Fireworks and Music Festival, Shanghai City Centre, shfireworks.org

CelebraTing The arTs From 16 October A month-long celebration of the arts from across China and beyond, the China Shanghai International Arts Festival presents a varied programme of artistic performances covering dance, drama, acrobatics, classical music and much more.

There’s also a range of activities and public events, plus pop up arts and crafts stalls where guests can pick up a unique souvenir.

China Shanghai international arts Festival, various venues, artsbird.com

MaMMa Mia! Until 04 October

Istanbul Biennial

One of the world’s most popular musicals steals across the stage in Istanbul’s Zorlu Performing Arts Center. Based on ABBA’s popular songs, Mamma Mia! focuses on family, friends, energy and fun. You can expect tunes like ‘Dancing Queen,’ ‘The Winner Takes It All’, and ‘Money, Money, Money’, all couched within a joyful show.

Mamma Mia!, Zorlu Center PSM, zorlucenterpsm.com

Throughout October

This year, Istanbul will play host to the 14th annual Istanbul Biennial. Following the theme of ‘Saltwater: a Theory of Thought Forms’, a multitude of venues across the city will host innovative art exhibitions featuring new works by over 50 visual artists. istanbul biennial, various venues, bienal.iksv.org

23

FrankFurt/roMe

Frankfurt Book Fair 14 to 18 October

The largest international book fair in the world, Frankfurt Book Fair has been running for over 500 years. Thousands of publishers, booksellers, authors and literary fans from around the world are expected to attend to buy and sell new books, network and take part in activities such as workshops, lectures and exhibits.

Celebrating ViValdi

Frankfurt Book Fair, Frankfurt am Main, frankfurt-book-fair.com

5, 12, 19 and 26 October The Opera in Rome Baroque Orchestra has collaborated with a number of renowned soloists to present a tribute to composer Antonio Vivaldi. The group will perform a 90-minute rendition of his famous piece ‘The Four Seasons’, preceded by concertos by Vivaldi and Marcello.

Vivaldi’s the Four Seasons in rome, Chiesa evangelica Valdese, classictic.com

MusiC festiVal 13, 20 and 27 October A concert series dedicated exclusively to Italian composers, Capriccio Italiano Festival brings together the best musical talents of the modern day to lead guests through a 500-year history of Italian music. Attend special performances of famous works, chamber music ensembles and showcases of previously unseen pieces.

Capriccio Italiano Festival, lugoarte.it/ capriccioitalianofestival

Frankfurt Marathon 25 October

Thousands of runners will gather to take part in the annual Frankfurt Marathon, sprinting and jogging 42km past the city’s striking landmarks to the finishing point at the Festhalle. The current record, unbeaten since 2011, is 2:03:42, so competition is bound to be high.

Frankfurt Marathon, frankfurt-marathon.com

24

black week turkey

Image: Corbis

Crime fiction and murder mysteries shine in this Istanbul event

26

>>monitor<<

What Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah will host Black Week Turkey. This crime fiction themed event will gather famous authors from around the world to debate and discuss, all against the luxurious backdrop of the historical hotel.

When 22 to 24 October

Where Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah, Istanbul, Turkey

Why The week is to mark the 125th year of Agatha Christie’s birth

Don’t miss The ‘whodunnit’ nights. These creative evenings will bring together world famous detective and mystery novel writers to celebrate the literary genre.

The talks These will span everything from ‘Woman Detectives’ to ‘Agatha Christie’s ‘Crime and Punishment’’, to several panels hosted by famous authors.

The hotel First opened in 1892 to serve guests from the Orient Express, Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah is an enduring symbol of modern luxury. The property has hosted Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie, and Alfred Hitchcock.

Special packages Around Black Week Turkey, a ‘Black Week Package’ will be available. This includes a minimum of two nights accommodation, an open buffet breakfast, an invitation for the opening ceremony of the festival, and entrance for all panel sessions (including coffee breaks). Even if you cannot make the event, you could book the Agatha Christie Room, a space rich with the heritage of the famous author, for a future date.

For more information visit blackweekturkey.com or to learn about Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah visit jumeirah.com

27

28

>>monitor<<

no whitE wAlls Running until December, this Abu Dhabi exhibition highlights six artists from the UAE Paintings, sculptures, photography, digital and textile art will all be on display in Abu Dhabi as part of this new exhibit. Titled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;No White Wallsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the initiative is artist-led, aiming to encourage direct contact between artists and audiences. Pieces include the works of Emily Gordon, a 25-year resident of the UAE, who uses acrylic paint interlaced with paraffin, resin, gold and silver leaf; Juliaz Ibbini, who focuses on photographs, drawings and paintings using a digital layering process; Mohammad Awward, an artist and graphic designer whose artwork captures a vintage feel; and more.

For additional information, visit no-white-walls.com, Instagram at nowhitewallsuae

29

Shop 28, Building 1, Gold and Diamond Park, near First Gulf Bank Metro Station

Featured Pierce Brosnan Romantic and Bond Fame, life and goals P. 32 Anil Kapoor Bollywood star Exclusive interview

P. 36

Justin Kauflin Piano prodigy Blind genius

Image: Getty

P. 40

32

Reporting by Veronica Parker / Famous. Image by Greg Williams / August

>>featured: pierce brosnan

lessons i n l ov e International celebrity Pierce Brosnan talks about fame, life goals, and marriage

After enduring his fair share of disappointment and tragedy in life, Pierce Brosnan has attained a measure of serenity in his 60s that he never expected to find. He’s been happily married to Keely-Shaye Smith for over two decades.

He’s recently become a grandfather. And he’s enjoying a pleasant resurgence in his film career, alternating between playing dashing romantic leads (Some Kind of Beautiful) and menacing Bond-like government operatives (No Escape).

“I still love making films,” Brosnan says. “It’s wonderful to be on a film set and it’s fun playing different kinds of characters that feed my creative instincts and allow my imagination to run wild. I also still think I can be better with each role, adding layers to my work that benefit from my own experiences and whatever wisdom I’ve gained with each passing year. The only drawback is that I find it stressful to be separated from my family for several months at a time.”

Today, the 62-year-old Brosnan maintains a luxurious home in Kauai, Hawaii where he and his wife spend several months each year. Their 17-year-old son Dylan began working as a model for Saint Laurent Men’s Collection line last autumn after being spotted in Malibu by creative director Hedi Slimane. Pierce and Keely are also are parents to a younger son Paris, 14.

The interview Do you feel you’re having a seconD coming as a BonD-like

work. But I always felt that there was unfinished business in getting back into the action genre and I enjoy the tension and physicality involved. It’s also a good excuse to stay in decent shape. you seem to Be working more than ever these Days.

This business has a tendency to be feast or famine. I’ve enjoyed working with some outstanding directors like Susanne Bier (Love is All You Need) and Roman Polanski (The Ghost Writer) and being part of a lot of great stories and wonderful casts. When you’ve lived a good part of your life on a movie set you never get tired of the camaraderie and the spirit that comes with the job. It’s been pleasantly surprising to be working this often. It makes you hungrier for more.

DiD you ever go through a romancing phase?

When I was younger perhaps, but I was never interested in having a lot of superficial relationships. I’ve also been married twice and have enjoyed raising two sets of children and all that takes up a lot of time.

I’m a man who’s very comfortable with the idea of marriage. I lived for 17 years with my first wife, Cassie, and now I’ve spent 21 years with Keely. That speaks for itself. Keely and I live a very beautiful and calm life together, and she has never objected to the fact that I spend a lot of time away at work— not even if I’m working with beautiful co-stars like Jessica Alba and Salma Hayek! (Smiles)

figure?

I had stayed away from the [action] genre for many years because I wanted to try my hand at all the other kinds of characters. It wasn’t easy for a time to find those roles but I’ve worked very hard to carry on and do interesting

Do you finD marriage easy?

I think I’ve been blessed twice in my life by meeting very intelligent and resilient women. I never expected to fall in love again the way I did with

33

Then it’s lunchtime, maybe a few hours of surfing, reading, relaxing in the sun, and then before you know it, you go, ‘What’s for dinner?’. It’s a very simple and peaceful life. There are very few things that can trouble you – not even my occasionally dour Irish soul

Cassie but then I met Keely and I knew I had found someone with whom I could share my life.

With Keely, we’ve been able to solve our problems in a very comfortable way without ever letting things get out of hand. Every couple needs to find an accommodation that allows them to live happily and harmoniously together.

But you have to work at it and be very attentive to keeping the spirit and passion alive.

Are you A better fAther todAy thAn ever?

I’m wiser and more attentive to certain things that you notice about your children as they grow older. I’ve also had Keely by my side who holds our home together. She’s a strong woman who has helped make my life so much richer.

‘‘

‘‘

>>featured: pierce brosnan

do strAngers often stArt conversAtions?

It happens, sure, and when it does I try to be very open and natural and talk about everyday things. I enjoy the ability to push away all the fame crap and just enjoy the moment and I hope people come away with a good feeling.

That’s the good side of being recognizable: you get to meet so many interesting people. You don’t want there to be any strangeness that exists between you and someone who may have seen your work and wants to just have a chat or say hello. I appreciate the good wishes. I never want to feel isolated from the world and so I love being able to wander about in London or Paris wherever I like. I just have to put on a cap and sunglasses and try to look very anonymous. (Laughs) your son dylAn hAs recently embArked on A possible cAreer As A model. hoW do you feel About thAt?

WhAt’s your AverAge dAy like?

I get up a six o’clock, I make myself a cup of coffee, sit on the terrace and watch the waves roll onto the beach. Then I’ll have breakfast with Keely and the boys and spend the rest of the morning painting. Then it’s lunchtime, maybe a few hours of surfing, reading, relaxing in the sun, and then before you know it, you go, “What’s for dinner?”. It’s a very simple and peaceful life. There are very few things that can trouble you – not even my occasionally dour Irish soul.

WhAt hAs your mArriAge to keely meAnt to you?

Much more than you can describe in any short answer. She’s a very strong woman who has been a truly loving and caring partner in life. She’s made me a better father and man, and we’re so blessed to have been able to share our lives together. She allows me to be myself and we’ve been able to build our relationship over the years and together with my children that’s my greatest accomplishment in life.

34

His mother and I are very happy for him. It’s an opportunity that came at the right time just after he graduated (from high school) and before he begins his studies in film school (in Los Angeles). It all came about by pure accident. He was discovered by Hedi Slimane (Vogue Magazine) while sitting at a juice bar coffee shop in Malibu. He took some photos, and gave him his phone number. The next thing we know is that he’s doing a big fashion shoot for Vogue.

But this is really a temporary job that gives him the chance to earn some money for himself and meet some interesting people. Dylan is also a talented writer and his real aspiration is to become a director. I’m very proud of him. your life hAs been mArked by both greAt And trAgic moments.

When you look bAck, WhAt do you mAke of it All?

There have been tragedies, yes, but I’ve also had great fortune in life. I aspired to be in the movies. I wanted to become a movie star. I wanted to be Bond. I wanted all the grand things that came with that life, and I got it all.

this is when modeling comes in handy

36

Images: Getty

>>featured: anil kapoor<<

A WelcoMed return As Welcome Back premiers on the big screen, Danae Mercer speaks to Bollywood star Anil Kapoor about Slumdog Millionaire, fame, and being normal

It’s nearing 4pm on a hot Dubai day in late April 2014, and Bollywood star Anil Kapoor is in the midst of filming. The month has been a long one.

Kapoor doesn’t mind – he loves what he does – but the heat and the work are tiring all the same. Staff rush or mill about. One dabs at Kapoor’s brow.

Another offers water.

“Action!” Someone shouts. The call is picked up across the film set. “Action!

Action!” The 30-strong crowd becomes silent.

Kapoor and two of his Welcome Back costars act the scene again. They’re filming the sequel to Director Anees Bazmee’s 2007 blockbuster Welcome, which performed strongly at the box offices. The trio is on a balcony overlooking a pool, with Kapoor’s face twisting animatedly. The camera shifts and they repeat the process. Then once more, this time with an actress walking prettily in the background.

Finally it’s a wrap. Kapoor steps away from the pool and into ten minutes of photos with waiting fans. He smiles, patient. He’s been doing a lot of yoga.

“I’m sorry,” he says as the pictures end. In his bright shirt and white trousers, Kapoor cuts a bold figure. His face is calm, almost serious. It’s something that often surprises people about him – that he’s not as loudly comical, as outrageously funny, as the characters he regularly portrays.

“Coffee? Tea?” He asks. It’s not the first time. He waves to chairs in the shade. “Let’s sit.”

As he moves towards a table, a young girl approaches. Her mother holds up a phone. “Photo?”

There’s no hesitation: “Of course.” And again, after a full day of filming, Kapoor steps back behind the lens. He has three children of his own. The little girl stands beside him, shy but beaming. The camera clicks.

❖

❖

❖

By all accounts, Kapoor is one of Bollywood’s leading men. To date, he’s starred in over 100 Bollywood films, playing the main man in everything from action to comedy to romance. He likes getting under the skin of different characters. He likes the research.

Kapoor has also managed the challenging feat of moving from Bollywood into Hollywood. In 2008, he featured in the box office hit, Slumdog Millionaire, playing the role of the game show host. In 2011, Kapoor played a villain in Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol.

The former he enjoyed for its grey shades and the chance to play a role that wasn’t quite hero or villain. It’s one of the films he’s proudest of. The latter he cites as requiring extensive research. “It was only a cameo, but I took bits and pieces of billionaires, some from America, some from India, and made that character.

“I love the craft. Getting under the skin of a character, piece by piece, getting it together, trying to know different people… I get the opportunity to play different people,” Kapoor says.

“I tell you what – in this business, there is so much adrenaline, a rush, putting the pieces together, the marketing, the film… and sometimes, there’s an anxiousness there, a nervousness. I’ve done the best I can, but we don’t know how people will react.”

Today he’s filming Welcome Back. By the time it premiered late this year, nearly 80 percent of the film was shot on location in the UAE. Iconic settings, such as the luxurious Jumeirah Zabeel Saray on Palm Jumeirah, are featured. It’s the second time Kapoor filmed at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. The Ottomaninspired venue appeared as an Indian palace in Mission: Impossible. “It is such a beautiful resort and a personal favourite,” notes Kapoor.

37

Welcome Back is a comedy, something Kapoor is known for starring in. He likes doing comedies. They make people smile and laugh. They sometimes involve an element of, he says, “hope”.

In front of the camera, Kapoor’s comedic persona becomes larger than life, bold and dramatic. Off screen, he sits quietly, almost calmly. There’s a confidence in him. His movements are easy and expressive. He smiles often. Yet it’s subdued.

“When people meet me, they’ve seen all my comedy films, and they expect me to be very funny in real life,” he explains. “And sometimes, you’re just so normal, and accessible, and they are shocked. I’m completely like all of you. It’s a very different thing. You can have a sense of humour, but you’re not constantly funny. The other role I’m doing, that’s an image. But me as the person, I have two eyes, two legs.” He grins. “I eat from a mouth and not my nose. Sometimes they are shocked. I am completely like any of you.” ❖

❖

❖

Kapoor has almost always wanted to be an actor. When he was a young boy, he secured a small role in a film. “That’s the time I knew yes, I’m on the right track. That’s the way it’s been. I just enjoy acting. And I am so lucky. When I look at some of my friends who were always confused, I used to wonder why.

Some didn’t know what they wanted… but I from the very beginning came into my senses. Like a horse with blinkers on. I am one of the fortunate ones.”

‘‘

‘‘

Sometimes, there’s an anxiousness there, a nervousness. I’ve done the best I can, but we don’t know how people will react

ness and anger in me.” Then came the romances, the comedies, the Indian version of 24, film after film, and the undeniable fame.

Today all three of his children have gone into the film industry. Kapoor recently launched his own media and entertainment company, Antila Ventures. He’s producing the second season of the Indian version of 24, in which he stars as chief Jai Singh Rathod. He also intends to set up a world-class studio facility on the edge of Mumbai. Between work and family, Kapoor is a busy man.

“I feel like, you always need some motivation, otherwise you have a tendency of getting stagnated. Every role, every film, every project, it needs to be outside the box. You need something that pushes you outside the comfort zone. You tend to work harder, tend to give your 100 percent. More than 100 percent.”

It’s now after 5pm. Kapoor has had a long day of shooting, meetings, and interviews. A small meal sits on his left, politely untouched and growing cold.

His manager waits at a nearby table – unobtrusive, but a quiet reminder that work is far from finished. Kapoor doesn’t seem to mind. “I just enjoy acting.

From the time I came into my senses, there was no confusion. I am so lucky.

You enjoy something, you’re passionate about something, you meet all kinds of people because of that, you travel all over the world…”

But does he love it? As with the child before, there’s no hesitation in his response. Just a smile and quick nod.

“Yes. Yes, yes. Indeed.”

For 37 years, Kapoor has been in the industry. Things keep on changing. He keeps on changing. “When I started my career, there was a lot of energy in me, a lot of anger. I wanted to do all the roles which I could satisfy the dark-

38

For more information on staying at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, or on any of Jumeirah's refined locations, visit jumeirah.com

>>featured: anil kapoor<<

39

40

Images: Gustavo Morita

>>featured: justin kauflin<<

KeeP On KeePin' On Despite losing his sight at age 11, music prodigy Justin Kauflin took up jazz piano at 15 and won a place at William Paterson University.

Gareth Rees spoke to the 29-year-old about his relationship with Clark Terry, documented in the awardwinning 2014 film Keep On Keepinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; On, and his new Quincy Jones-produced second album Dedication

41

Imagine a two-year-old boy, one of five children, enjoying his quickly improving ability to walk and run, lurching about the house ensuring his proud parents’ can’t enjoy a moment’s repose. Now imagine that tiny child stretching his pudgy arms upwards to reach the keys of the family’s upright piano, and casually tapping out the melody of familiar nursery rhyme Mary Had a Little Lamb, which he has picked up by ear.

In 1988, Justin Kauflin was that precocious two-year-old child. Twenty-four years later, the child prodigy had developed into a promising jazz pianist, and was taking a phone call backstage at a concert from his friend and mentor, jazz trumpet legend Clark Terry, informing him that Terry’s former apprentice, eminent producer Quincy Jones, wanted the youngster to accompany him on a world tour that would take in Montreux, Switzerland; Vienne, France; Seoul, Korea; and Tokyo and Hiroshima in Japan. Unsurprisingly, Kauflin accepted. Jones went on the produce the fledgling musician’s second album, Dedication, released in January.

None of this would seem extraordinary, but as captured in Keep On Keepin’ On, Al Hicks and Adam Hart’s award-winning film documenting Kauflin’s relationship with Terry, the 29-year-old achieved all of this despite being entirely blind.

Born with a rare degenerative disease that left him with low vision from birth, Kauflin’s parents had signed him up to violin lessons with Suzanne Schreck, an exponent of the Suzuki method, at the age of four. The wunderkind had been performing live since the age of six, starting formal piano lessons (“always the instrument I gravitated towards”) with Virginia Koun at age nine. Then, at age 11, Kaufin’s vision went. “I have four siblings, and I think being in a big family ensured the transition was not as traumatic as it might have been,” Kauflin told me in June, speaking from his home in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he was enjoying a few days of relaxation before embarking on a summer tour of Europe with his Justin Kauflin Trio. “I don’t remember ever feeling, ‘oh, the world is over, I can’t see anymore, this is the worst’. I actually

42

became more active than I ever was before. I joined a bunch of clubs at school.

I got busier after I went blind. I joined a public speaking club, so I was reading poetry. I was in an orchestra, a band and a choir.” Kauflin reacted to losing his sight by throwing himself into music, practising piano three hours a day after school in between homework and household chores.

“I did always enjoy it at a certain level, but it wasn’t like, ‘oh, this is the thing for me’,” Kauflin told me. “That didn’t happen really until I lost my sight and the distractions went away. Then I was able to focus on the music, that’s when music took a central role.”

By 14-years-old the promising pianist was familiar with the music of classical composers such as Bach and Chopin but clueless when it came to jazz. By his own admission he had never even heard of John Coltrane or Miles Davis when he auditioned to attend the prestigious Governor’s School for the Arts.

Kauflin believes he was welcomed into the jazz department because the faculty thought he would struggle with the sight-reading required to excel as a classical musician. “That’s really why I ended up [there],” he told me. “They thought, ‘OK, we’ll put him in the jazz department, that will be a good fit for him’. It did not take long for me to fall in love with jazz music.”

First he discovered Bill Evans, thanks to his jazz piano teacher who was an Evans “fanatic”. Then it was Keith Jarrett, Art Tatum and Chick Corea, whose music he first heard on local Virginia drummer Jae Sinnett’s public radio show. He was soon playing in the DJ’s Jae Sinnett Trio.

“As a blind kid, I really wasn’t sure what I was going to do until jazz came around and I started finding work as a jazz musician while I was still in school,” Kauflin told me. “That was really encouraging for me. I mean, of course there were things I could have explored that weren’t music related, but they weren’t things that I was into, so when jazz came along it really gave me the sense that ‘this is something that I can do and I really do love it’. It didn’t take me long to realise that it was something that I did want to pursue as a career.”

>>featured: justin kauflin<<

Graduating in the top one per cent of his class at Salem High School and valedictorian at the Governor’s School, Kauflin won a scholarship to William Paterson University in New Jersey. There he was mentored by jazz pianists Mulgrew Miller and Harold Mabern and Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Clark Terry.

Following graduation, Kauflin told me that he attended every gig Miller played in New York City, and that some of his favourite memories are of chatting with the pianist, who would seek the youngster out during his set breaks. But it was his relationship with the then octogenarian Terry, who by the time of their meeting was losing his sight to diabetes, that would develop to such an extent Kauflin’s university friend Al Hicks believed it a fitting subject for Keep On Keepin’ On, the documentary film he and videographer Adam Hart spent four years filming.

Which brings us back to that telephone call. After numerous failed attempts to contact Kauflin, who had been playing a benefit gig with jazz singer Dianne Reeves, Terry finally reached him to break the news about the Quincy Jones tour. Kauflin was obviously joyful, but it was the pleasure Terry got from breaking the news that really touched the then 26-year-old. “The thing I’ll never forget is how excited Clark was,” Kauflin told me. “He was so happy.

I can’t even tell you how gratifying that was. Clark was always pulling for his students. He cared so much about them. I was so happy because Clark was so happy and it was just a really special moment on a lot of levels.”

After that phone call, Kauflin went on to play to crowds of up to 10,000 people in Europe (suffering no stage fright). He also recorded Dedication, featuring 12 original compositions by Kauflin, nine of which are tributes to friends, family and teachers, including Clark Terry, who is honoured with For Clark.

“Al would take me over to Clark’s house, and at first it was because he wanted me to talk to Clark about going blind,” Kauflin told me. “He wanted me to give Clark encouragement. That right there already sets this particular relationship apart from others, because there was another element. It wasn’t just me being a fan of his. I was sharing something from my own experience with him, because he was having a hard time with losing his sight.”

Kauflin has already shifted beyond from Dedication. “I did that, that is where I was almost two years ago now. I want to move on. I want to see where I am now,” he told me. But he doesn’t see himself joining John Coltrane and Miles Davis – names he now knows well – in the jazz canon; the most important thing for him is to continue being “completely honest” and trying to “connect with people and inspire”.

Hicks and Hart spent long periods living with Terry and his wife Gwen in Arkansas, sometimes for a month at a time, surviving on very little money while capturing the growing bond between the old master and the young pianist. Terry helped Kauflin through the early stages of his career, working with him to overcome challenges such as a severe case of stage fright brought on by an imminent performance at a prominent jazz competition. Hicks soon realised the connection between Terry and Kauflin would make for a more interesting film than the traditional biopic he had originally planned. The result, Keep On Keepin’ On, released to critical acclaim in 2014, is a remarkable film, punctuated by moments of genuine emotion that demonstrate the level Terry and Kauflin’s respect and love for each other.

Beyond composing and playing, Kauflin is determined to learn from his mentor and friend Terry, who passed away in February at the age of 94, and respect his memory by sharing his love of jazz with as many people as possible. “It’s the responsibility of many of the people who Clark touched when he was here,” he told me. “For me, it’s always something that’s going to be in the forefront of my mind and my ambition. It’s very important people never forget just how much he loved music and sharing it. I want to take part in that and continue that legacy of encouraging young people to be aware of jazz.

It’s beautiful when it’s done right, and it can only enrich people’s live. As a teacher but also as a performer, I will hopefully be able to continue sharing.

That’s what it’s all about.”

43

LIFESTYLE Michael Caines Master chef New restaurant P. 46 Chocolate Week London event Delicious dishes P. 51 Pearl Lam Chinese iconoclast Future of art P. 56

Image: Getty

Dubai Watch Week Luxury watches Special event P. 60

THE diSH

World-renowned chef Michael Caines has made a name leading Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gidleigh Park restaurant to two Michelin Stars. At the start of October, Caines opened his first ever non-UK venue: Pearls by Michael Caines in Jumeirah at Etihad Towers. Here Maria Dakova speaks exclusively to the chef about the accident that nearly ended his life, his passion for running, and his love of subtle spices

46

>>food<<

47

48

>>food<<

small bites Why have you chosen Jumeirah at etihad toWers?

It’s an incredible spectacle of architecture. It’s location is fabulous. My overall feeling is that the hotel, the product, the facilities, and Abu Dhabi itself are all amazing. It’s a great privilege and honour to open my first restaurant outside the UK in this location.

humble man. If it wasn’t for the people on the day who showed compassion and cared for me, [my life] might have been a different story. I feel lucky to have survived that day. My outlook now is that I live life for the fulfilment of every day. It exists to be lived and made the most of it. i understand you Were adopted, but that recently you found your biological

did you alWays knoW you Wanted to be

parents. hoW Was that?

a chef?

I had always wondered, because I am adopted, where I got this passion for cooking. My biological father, I found out that he was a cook, who had a talent for turning simple meals into amazing meals. He died a couple years ago. It’s always this ‘nature vs nurture’ thing, the instincts you’re born with compared to what you’re nurtured for.

No! I thought I would be in the army or military, maybe a marine. I enjoyed being outdoors. I was very sporty, playing water polo, cricket… I was just very active. Then I thought about architecture and interiors. I never thought about being a chef.

But I really liked cooking at home. My mum was a teacher; my dad was in the RAF. They were great intellectuals, really wonderful people. My dad had a garden where we would grow vegetables and fruit, and mum would make jam. It was great. There were six children, and we all had chores to do. Cooking with mum, baking, I enjoyed that. I did that as opposed to washing up and drying. I started at home. We would come around the table as a family to eat. It was a very open house, as mum was very hospitable, and friends and family often turned up. The table was socially part of our lives. That’s where the passion grew.

Then having realised I could go to college and become a chef, I changed from military to that. I never looked back really. I then thought I wanted to be the best chef I could, so I put myself in the kitchen of great chefs. That’s how it started. did you experience any challenges along the Way?

When I was 25, I was in a car crash where I lost my arm. It changed me as an individual. It made me a

hoW Would you explain your style of cooking?

For me, the outcome is key. The dish isn’t just about protein. It’s 50 percent protein, 50 percent garnish, and using herbs and spices to bring in a layering of flavours. I focus on substance over style. A lot of people say it’s about style, with fireworks coming out of the dish. It’s beautiful but tastes of nothing. I want a good food memory that people can take away. I’ve been looking a lot at the elegance of spice. Cardamom, cumin. This has helped me elevate flavours and bring in a touch of uniqueness. hoW are you adJusting your dishes for the middle east?

We want to give great value in an uncompromising way. The dishes I’m bringing will be great, the signature dishes of my cuisine, but also trying to fit the eclectic palate of people here. This results in dishes like my lobster salad with mango, cardamom and lime vinaigrette. Then we have a salmon dish that’s very Japanese, with ginger, honey and soy, yet it’s cured with dill and pickled cucumbers.

sun or snow?

Both. I love the mountains and love skiing. other hobbies?

Absolutely. Trail running, camping, sailing, and meeting people. first thing you do when you wake up?

Where’s my phone? Where’s my diary? how do you relax?

Once a year I’ll go camping.

That slows me down. I run as well. guilty pleasure?

Takeaways. coffee or tea?

Coffee usually in the morning, then tea later. pets?

I don’t have any. I used to have a cat.

What’s your favourite part of your life?

I love it all really. Being an entrepreneur, a businessman, a chef. But equally, there’s my family.

For more information on Pearls by Michael Caines, visit jumeirah.com, +971 2811 5555, JADinfo@jumeirah.com

49

THE ULTIMATE DESERT EXPERIENCE

10 YEARS OF FLYING HIGH IN DUBAI Join us on a magic carpet ride over the Dubai desert.

Catch the rising sun at 4000 feet and descent to a vast expanse of golden sand dunes. See the roaming camels, galloping gazelles and the mighty Arabian Oryx in their natural habitat.

Let some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most experienced pilots take you on a ride of a lifetime!

BALLOON ADVENTURES EMIRATES For booking and information visit: WWW.BALLOONING.AE or phone +971 4 2854949

BIRDS EYE VIEW OF THE DESERT

EXPERIENCE THE SUNRISE AT 4000FT.

>>food<<

the aRt of chocolate

Images: Getty and Corbis

Ruth Hinks fell in love with chocolate at the age of 12 and went on to work as a pastry chef in some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest five-star hotels, before opening her own chocolatier, Cocoa Black, in Edinburgh in 2008 and becoming the first woman to win the UK World Chocolate Masters in 2013. Gareth Rees spoke to Hinks, who is one of the top five chocolatiers in the world, as she prepared to take part in this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UK-wide festival Chocolate Week

51

A

s a child Ruth Hinks was encouraged by her father to grow her own vegetables, but thinking gardening would take “too much time, too much trouble”, the 12-year-old went in search of something else. “I found an Easter egg mould, took it home, played around with a bit of chocolate, and the rest is history,” says the UK World Chocolate Master and owner of Edinburgh-based chocolatier and patisserie Cocoa Black.

Today, Hinks is making something more daring than an Easter egg: the Flying Scotsman, in chocolate. And the project has taken a lot of time and a lot of trouble. “We’ve got three of us working on it and we’ve all done five 20-hour days trying to get it perfect,” she says. “It’s still not done.” Hinks estimates that her latest creation, which has been commissioned for the opening of the new Borders Railway and, when finished, will be one and a half metres long and weigh approximately 70kg, will take another week of often frustrating early mornings and late nights to complete. But, she’s says, it’s the spitting image of the real thing and she’s pretty impressed with it. “You get crazy chefs and you get normal chefs, and crazy chefs always like to push themselves and try to improve themselves and take on a challenge, because that’s the way you learn,” she says by way of explanation.

Hinks, who admits to having failed home economics in school, certainly likes to push herself. Born in East London, a city on the south east coast of South Africa, between Port Elizabeth and Durban, she went on to attend the Cordon Bleu Silwood School of Cookery before leaving South Africa for London and embarking on a career as a pastry chef, working mainly in five-star hotels. She worked in London, then with Albert Roux at The Grand Amsterdam and spent 10 years in Australia, where she mentored Master Chef Australia’s Georges Calombaris, and made a name for herself working at Melbourne’s famous Windsor Hotel, Australia’s only surviving Victorian era luxury hotel. “I got a reputation for those afternoon teas,” she says. “That was my first head pastry chef position in a five-star hotel.”

But, despite her success, Hinks threw it all in the move to Scotland – she is married to a Scotsman – where she opened her own chocolatier Cocoa Black in 2008. “We have a shop, which sells cakes, chocolate and ice cream, and that’s always very busy,” says Hinks. “Then we’ve also got a school where I teach both professionals and non-professionals.”

52

>>food<<

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHOCOLATE WEEK The UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 11th annual Chocolate Week will take place from October 12 to 18, with a packed programme of more than 100 chocolate-related activities arranged by chocolatiers, hotels, bars and restaurants across the nation topped off with The Chocolate Show at Olympia National Hall in west London.

Organised by Salon du Chocolat, the headline event, which will take place from October 16 to 18 and is expected to attract 15,000 visitors, will see more than 60 of the most talented people in the industry host talks, demonstrations, workshops and the Chocolate Fashion Show. chocolateweek.co.uk

53

>>food<<

Hinks’ greatest triumph came in 2013 when she won the prestigious bi-annual UK World Chocolate Masters competition, going on the represent the UK in the World Chocolate Masters in Paris, where she competed against chocolatiers from 20 different countries, finishing in the top five and cementing her reputation as one of the finest chocolatiers in the world.

Chocolate making is hard graft. Working with her mentor and regular collaborator Martin Chiffers, who is also assisting with the Flying Scotsman commission, and former UK World Chocolate Master Mark Tilling, Hinks trained for 12 months for the UK Chocolate Masters, working 25 hours a week to perfect the numerous creations she would have to construct during the eight-hour competition. “I had six run-throughs,” she says. “I cooked everything from start to finish in a given time, then I tasted it and judged it.

I asked myself, how can I make it better? Is it the right chocolate? Should we have raspberries or blueberries? It takes you ages. It must have taken me six months to get my dessert bang on.”

The theme for the competition was ‘The Architecture of Taste’, and Hinks chose the honeybee as inspiration for her showpiece structure. “Bees are ultimately architects,” says Hinks. Constructed entirely of chocolate, Hinks’ winning creation comprised a base of two interlocking hexagons reminiscent of honeycomb, a globe and a white pyramid shaped hive topped with a tree decorated with two red flowers and two wicker beehives. Let’s just say it was far more impressive than a Snickers.

Not everybody can build an intricate chocolate sculpture expressing his or her admiration for the honeybee or a chocolate train the weight of an adult human being. But, according to Hinks, all it takes to become a chocolatier is passion and the right training, and she has seen a surge of interest in chocolate in the past decade.

“When we started Cocoa Black eight years ago we were one of the few chocolatiers in Scotland, and now there are 85 registered chocolate companies,” she says. “After the financial crisis, a lot of people wanted to retrain, to do something else, so I trained a lot of people who had got redundancy packages and wanted to come and be chocolatiers, and now a lot of them have gone off and have got great little businesses. It’s been rewarding to see that.”

“Chocolate has definitely become trendier and everyone is a lot more aware of it,” adds Hinks. That is in no small part down to masters of the craft like Ruth Hinks.

A film of the making of Hinks’ Flying Scotsman will be screened at The Chocolate Show in London this month.

54

56

Black Zen No 1 by Zhu Jinshi

Perfect By Chance by A Yi Pai

>>culture<<

pearl lam:

Art WorLd IConoCLAst

su Xiaobai

William Louey

Fuschia-haired gallerist Pearl Lam has changed Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nascent art scene, explains Neha Kale

57

image: William louey

pearl lam is a lesson in the dangers of youthful arrogance.

When the legendary Hong Kong-born gallerist, who has spent the last two decades bridging the gap between Chinese art stars and the global market, returned from university in the early nineties, she nearly fell prey to the dusty belief that Western ideas outweighed Eastern traditions.

“Six months before I returned from London, I told my father that I wanted to open a gallery but he told me that he did not send me away for over 10 years to be a shopkeeper and that he would not finance me to buy frivolous things to stick on the wall,” laughs Lam, her accent swaying between rounded British inflections and a lilting Chinese cadence. “He sent me to Shanghai to work as a property developer so I could earn the money to buy whatever art I wanted. But I could not speak a word of Mandarin. I had this British colonial attitude because I’m from Hong Kong and I was educated abroad.

I couldn’t understand why people were talking about Confusionism, Taoism and Buddhism, when in England we talked about music and youth culture.

I thought it was so passé!

“But it was then that I realised how important Chinese art and culture really was. So I started learning. That’s how everything began.”

If you mention Lam, whose commercial gallery empire currently spans Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore and whose fuchsia hair and outlandish outfits make her a singular presence on the international art circuit, to any-

58

one with a fleeting interest in art, you’re likely to be met with the mix of fascination and reverence reserved for those unafraid to take on a world that’s shaped by unwritten codes. But when she struck a deal with her real estate Tycoon father to hold a series of pop-up shows, her disregard for convention and newfound cultural awareness didn’t protect her from a shaky start.

“My father was so embarrassed and no one understood what I was trying to do,” she says, bristling at the memory. “It took a long time. But when the art world changed and contemporary art became a huge deal, my mother asked me to return and open a permanent gallery. Then, I became celebrated.”

Lam started by regularly staging shows that saw Western and Chinese artists respond to ancient techniques like ink painting and calligraphy. Later she was invited to curate Awakening: La France Mandarine, a major touring exhibition that explored French influences in Chinese art. It was her decision to open a space focusing on design in 2005 and Contrasts, a permanent gallery on Shanghai’s busy Middle Jiangxi Road a year later, that sealed her fate as a cultural force. But despite the fact that the mid-1990s was marked by a global obsession with Asia – Sotheby’s set records when its first New York sale of Chinese artists brought in USD13 million in 2006 – as well as the dissolution of the boundaries between art, design and fashion (symbolised by Takashi Murakami’s iconic 2004 collaboration with Louis Vuitton), Lam still struggled to establish a domestic presence.

Image: William Louey

>>culture<<

“The gallery is a Western construct and you have to adapt it to the local culture so everything was trial and error,” says Lam, who represents Zhang Huan, a major figure among the generation of artists that emerged in the wake of Mao’s 1976 Cultural Revolution who’s famous for kaleidoscopic oil paintings and towering Buddhas made from ash. “I headhunted staff from abroad but they couldn’t speak the language, so it was a problem. Chinese culture is so strong, so it was about knowing how to function. For me, it was a big learning curve.”

Lam credits her progress to Gao Minglu, a groundbreaking scholar who was the first to show her that Chinese contemporary art wasn’t a shallow response to Western contexts, but rather a product of a modernity that was entirely its own. In 2012, Lam, buoyed by the success of the Hong Kong Art Fair and the rise of the West Kowloon Cultural District, opened a permanent gallery in the Pedder Building. It’s no accident that the debut exhibition, Chinese Contemporary Abstract, 1980s until present – an audacious show that starred rising abstract artists such as Zhu Jinshi and Su Xiaobai and featured lush, colourburst canvases that riffed on calligraphy and ink painting – was curated by Minglu.

“Most people just think that Chinese contemporary art is based on politics, but this is a Western perspective. It’s amazing, because we never had realism but we were making conceptual art thousands of years ago, way before

the West,” says Lam, who recently showed organic beeswax sculptures by the Beijing artist Ren Ri at her second Hong Kong gallery in the up-andcoming Sheung Wan district. Currently Lam is planning an exhibition with African-American sculptor Leonardo Drew. “We’re very famous for Chinese abstract now but back then these artists were not on the international radar.

We find them before they become big.”

Lam, who is ranked among Asia’s most powerful women by Forbes magazine and lives between Hong Kong, Shanghai and London, has always been the best advertisement for her own ambitions. Her Shanghai residence, a 9,700-square foot loft, is home to Shanghai Deco armchairs, zebra-print love seats by celebrated British designer Mark Brazier-Jones and a stainless steel rock sculpture by Zhan Whang. Together the venue is a visual manifestation of an ethos that’s equally focused on introducing artists such as Jenny Holzer and Ben Quilty to Asian audiences as it is with championing Chinese art. And the China Art Foundation, a New York-based organisation Lam founded in 2008, is just as much about sparking cross-cultural dialogue as it is about pointing out the ways in which both worlds converge.

“I’m always working with different galleries and museums because I want Chinese artists to be known internationally but I also want to bring Western movements to China. Art is a platform to learn. I want the West to know that the things they think are ethnic are just things they haven’t studied.”

59

DUBAI WATCH WEEK

Harry Winston: Project Z9

EXHIBITIONS The Grand Prix D’Horlogerie De Gèneve will bring together the biggest stars of the horology industry with an annual travelling exhibition. Meanwhile, the Rebels of Horology draws together a series of independent watchmakers focused on creating timepieces from scratch.

60

Harry Winston: Premier Precious Butterfly Automatic

WATCHMAKING MASTER CLASS Some of the industry’s most respected watchmakers will host intimate master classes. Limited to nine people, these classes allow attendees the opportunity to take apart, then put back together, a timepiece.

H Moser & Cie: 2015 Venturer Tourbillion Dual Time

CONVERSATIONS This special VIP programme will bring together several brands from the independent watch sector to talk through the minute details of working with watches. Lasting for usually an hour, the talks are offered at bookable times throughout the day.

>>WATCHES<<

The Middle East’s first global event dedicated to the watch industry will run 18 to 22 October, bringing with it a series of timeless moments

Hautlence: Invictus Morphos Soldier

Chanel: Mademoiselle Privé

SPECIAL PROGRAMMES

THE ART OF HOROLOGY FORUM

There are three: The Seddiqi

This special forum will bring to-

Scholarship, a USD35,000

gether leading watch curators,

scholarship to help a poten-

authors, historians, writers, col-

tial watch enthusiast study

lectors, brands and industry

in Switzerland; the SWS

professionals. Over 30 speak-

Internship, a programme tak-

ers will be attending from nu-

ing fresh graduates from inter-

merous fields, making this the

national watch schools and al-

perfect place to discuss cur-

lowing them to develop in the

rent topics in the watch indus-

region; and Mentorship, a pro-

try. The forum will take place

gramme encouraging writ-

from the 19 to 22 October at

ers from the region to devel-

The Empty Quarter gallery.

op their watch-related skills.

Hermes: Slim d'Hermes in rose gold

VIP PROGRAMMES Tailored to the luxury consumer, there will be numerous VIP programmes throughout the week.

These include private tours, roundtable discussions with brands, watchmaking master classes and other social events.

Dubai Watch Week is sponsored by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Christie’s, the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, and the Grand Prix D’Horlogerie De Gèneve. For more information, visit dubaiwatchweek.com

61

TRAVEL Gentlemen racers Explore with racing Luxury cars P. 64 When in Rome Travel around Italy Classics and hidden gems P. 68 Secret Spaces Jumeirah Vittaveli Refined beach villa P. 78

Image: Getty

The High Life Der Keller in Dubai Beautiful German food P. 82

life in the fast lane

in 24 hours of Spa, endurance drivers race against each other and the brutal 24-hour clock. Danae Mercer reports

It’s 10pm on a Saturday in July, and Garreth Greif, product manager for Audi’s exclusive range, looks exhausted. He is wrapped in layers of jackets and jumpers. I am too. We are sat inside a chilly luxury marquee, watching race cars speed around a track on numerous screens hung around the room.

Greif gestures to a nearby table. “Coffee?”

“Red Bull?” I respond.

images: Steve Bauerschmidt

We are at 24 Hours of Spa, an endurance race staring Audi, BMW, Ferrari, and Porsche. The 204 drivers – both amateurs and professionals – rotate in a relay-like schedule for 24 hours. In the days leading up to the event, thousands of spectators descend upon Spa to camp and celebrate. Their fires light up the surrounding forest well before sunset. By the time the final engine has roared, some 52,000 spectators will have descended upon the sleepy town to watch 57 cars complete hundreds of laps through sun and rain and shine.

64

At regular intervals, the marquee shakes with the roar of passing engines. Greif looks at me, waiting. “Both,” I answer. The night is young in the world of endurance racing. “Definitely both.” ❖

❖

❖

“Motorsport, I’m sure you’ve heard people say this, it’s full of disappointments. But when you get that feeling of winning, it encourages you back again and again,” says wealthy businessman Ian Loggie to me a week later. Loggie, a self-made

man who launched his own company to the tune of 18-hour working days, developed a passion for racing in 2011. He attended a corporate racing day and went home with the sound of engines in his ears. “I thought I had to do that again.”

Next came race after race after race, yearly investments reaching a million dollars, and 20 to 30 hours a week behind the wheel. “It gives me a real buzz to be honest, every time I get into the car. Every corner is about how well you can drive it.

It feels like you’re doing something you shouldn’t be doing.

And then you think: ‘I can’t wait to do that again’.”

During 24 Hours of Spa, Loggie and his team drove an Audi R8 LMS ultra, a race car developed by Audi Sport specifically for customer teams like his. At one point another car crashed into the side of their Audi R8 LMS ultra yet without any great harm. Some duct tape and a quick pit stop, and it was back on the road. The sport is dangerous, Loggie acknowledges. But it’s no worse than driving on an English motorway.

The real challenge is in the endurance. “When you’re out of the car, a lot of the time, you might have done a two hour stint, and you might think: ‘I have another three hours to drive. I’m not actually sure I want to do this’. You don’t sit there saying ‘I’m desperate to get back and do it again’. You’re thinking ‘I hope someone else does it.’ It’s a bit of ‘fight or flight’ feeling.

“But as soon as you’re in the seat, pulling out of the pit, the way you’re thinking then is totally focused on what lap time you’ve done, how you can improve it, taking care of the cars… endurance racing isn’t about being the fastest car on the track.

Ian Loggie on the podium

>>travel<<

top endurance races Rolex 24 at Daytona / Florida, USA 30 to 31 January 2016

north america’s premier sports car event, this 24hour race will happen in the new motorsports stadium at daytona International speedway.

Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring / Florida, USA 16 to 20 March 2016

this endurance racing event is held on the former Hendricks army airfield WWII air base in Florida.

24 Heures du Mans / Le Mans, France 18 to 19 June 2016

the pinnacle on many racing calendars, Le Mans is the world’s oldest sports car race in endurance racing.

24 Hours of Spa / Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium TBC July 2016

With a close-knit atmosphere and dedicated fans, this 24-hour race happens against the backdrop of Belgium’s greenery.

Dakar Rally / Paris, France TBC 2016

Hosted in paris in september this year, the dakar rally focuses on off-roading vehicles and diffiLoggie's car in the pit

cult terrain.

65

I’ve seen cars win races because they stay out of trouble and just keep driving.” ❖

❖

❖

According to those who know, there’s a special hour in the world of endurance racing: just after 4am, the moment before the sun has truly come up but when it the promise of it hangs in the air. That’s when anything can happen. Crashes. Shifts.

Dramatic changes.

I don’t make it to 4am. Before midnight, I head home and to bed. Greif and a few dedicated fans remain in the increasingly cold marquee. They fight to stay awake even as the drivers fight to win. Eight of the drivers were former F1 racers. Six had won the Le Mans 24 hours before. Amidst this competition, Ian Loggie and his team continued with dogged determination.

“The biggest difficulty with the whole thing is that a lot of it is out of your hands. You see so many crashes, so many things that happen that it’s not your fault. But the more you

do it, as they say, the luckier you become,” Loggie would tell me later. I see him briefly in the racing tent the next day. The amateur racers—or gentlemen racers, as they are sometimes called—have their own busses, tents, and facilities. Audi sends a team with spare R8 parts as well. When we chat, Loggie is sat draped across a simple folding chair.

Bananas and plastic-wrapped sandwiches rest on the counter. He looks drained but elated.

“For me, my challenge is to get to the front. I can’t be a professional driver, so I want to be a really quick amateur driver.”

Within a matter of minutes, Loggie’s break is over. He’s back out to the racetrack and the road.

When the final lap is completed (totalling 536 this year, the third highest number since the race was included in the Blancpain Endurance Series), Loggie’s team places first in the amateur segment. He joins the other winners on the podium, beaming. He is covered in the dirt and sweat of 24 hours and he couldn’t look happier.

“In the end,” he tells me weeks later, “It’s all about winning.”

A cAr mAde for rAcing About the cAr

The Audi r8 LmS Ultra is aimed at customer racing teams. A rebuilt of the near-production V10 engine is due only after 20,000km of racing. A mid-engine sports car, focus is on reliability, ease of use for teams and drivers and competitiveness. The base for the race car stems from road cars, with more than 50 percent of the production parts of the Audi r8 V10 also being used for racing

by Audi Sport customer racing. Then there’s safety. The standard Audi Space frame is combined with a high-strength steel roll cage. in terms of numbers, the r8 LmS ultra features up to 419 kW power, over 500 nm torque, and 5,200 ccm displacement.

the hAndcrAfted experience

Bespoke. Personalised. Luxurious. Audi’s exclusive offering is something the brand is proud of— and rightly so. With endless options, the exclusive line allows complete personalisation of a car.

Potential customers are invited to the manufacture to select everything from the shade of leather in the interior to the shape of the seat to the finish of the wood. materials are of a deliberately high calibre; the leather alone has to pass through 30 different tests before appearing in one of the cars.

66

>>travel<<

Top German facTories Neckarsulm, Germany / Audi Forum This charming, sleepy town is filled with quiet streets and audi employees. in neighbouring villages you will find tourist-free German castles (castle Hornberg being a particular favourite) and tiny restaurants with traditional German dishes. You can also visit the audi forum, touring through current audi models and the exclusive range. a new r8 manufacture creates additional interest. audi.com

Glashütte, Germany / Glashütte Original Barely a 45-minute drive from Dresden, through snowy hills and small villages, you will find Glashütte. With a population in the thousands, this tiny town exists in what is often called the ‘Valley of the Watches’. True to the name, Glashütte is home of Glashütte original, the luxury watch manufacture. You can spend an entire day touring the manufacture’s many airy levels. Glashuetteoriginal.com

Meissen, Germany / Meissen Porcelain Factory Located near Dresden, meissen is a pretty town that houses the albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic meissen cathedral, and the meissen frauenkirche.

Yet the area is best known for being home to meissen porcelain. one of the most famous china manufacturers in the world, the porcelain features a signature trademark of crossed swords.

You can explore the factory and tour a museum that holds 20,000 pieces. meissen.com

67

when in rome Offering everything from classic gems to hidden delights, Rome is the perfect holiday escape this October. Editor Danae mercer explores the timeless city

68

>>travel<<

View of Castel Sant Angelo

69

Day one Morning Rome in the afternoon is a city filled with the excited buzz of holidaymakers, the hum of Italian words, and the scents of warm bread spilling out of opendoor restaurants. But in the morning, it’s a different world. The city waits, quiet, stoic, with its impressive buildings and empty streets together giving a feeling of a place that has withstood all time. To capture this atmosphere, I grab a sharp espresso and leave Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto by 6am.

I walk to Via Leone IV, a street near the Vatican. There I meet with a private tour guide arranged by Pure Entertainment Group, a group who coordinate bespoke luxury travel services. I am early but already the guide is rushing me towards the Vatican. “It gets busy quickly,” he explains. “To be the first ones, that’s the secret.” As we wait for the doors to open, the guide uses props and images to explain what we will see inside. “I cannot speak in the Sistine Chapel,” he notes.

By 7:30am, the doors swing open and we are in. Immediately my guide marches me to the Sistine Chapel. We arrive into a largely empty space, creating the feeling of a private viewing of Michelangelo’s greatest work. The guide points out Adam’s eyes (“You can’t see them from here, but on webcam images available online you can. Adam’s eyes are completely white. He’s blind.”) and the painted pages of books (“They are blank, which means in the painting, the judgement hasn’t started yet”). Over the next few hours, the guide walks me through the numerous halls and histories of the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica with similar expertise. “What we can see here is just a drop not in the water, but in the ocean, of what the Vatican actually holds,” he notes.

70

After walking through the Vatican’s little-discussed modern art collection and out into Rome’s sunshine, the guide turns to me. “One thing to be sure of: never, ever buy a ticket from the ‘skip the queue’ sellers outside here. They are absolutely fake. You will lose your money.” Instead, pre-book through a tour concierge. Individual tours of the Vatican are also available for an additional cost. afternoon I make my way across the city towards the Coliseum. After a scoop of gelato in one of the neighbouring roadside cafés, I meet Alvise Di Giulio, an energetic tour guide who focuses on seeing hidden gems in vintage Fiats (rome500exp.com). With the windows down and the skylight open (“Old-fashioned air conditioning!” Laughs Giulio), it’s easy to feel the bustling energy of Rome.

We drive to Aventine Hill, which Giulio calls a hidden village that tourists never come to. Historically portrayed as working class, Aventine Hill is now a wealthy residential area consisting of refined architecture, the Basilica of Santa Sabina, the Rome Rose Garden, and numerous palaces.

Next comes Savello Park and the Garden of the Oranges, “one of the most romantic places in the world.” Today a sleepy vantage point from which to see all of Rome while standing under the shade of towering orange trees, the park previously served as a fortress and a monastery. Giulio walks me to a fountain gushing cold water. “The locals always drink this,” he says, filling up our bottles. “But the best way is to hold the spout.” Giulio demonstrates and the water changes direction, shooting up like a drinking faucet.

A short walk away is Basilica di Santa Sabina, the oldest existing Roman basilica that maintains its original style. Like the Garden of Oranges, Santa Sabina is nearly entirely empty, creating a feeling of serenity within its looming columns.

>>travel<<

Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto

71

Via Giulia

Trastevere

72

Trastevere

>>travel<<

An insider recommends Diego Spera, Lifestyle Coordinator, Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto Rome is one of those cities where you could spend a life and still be able to see something new.

If you’re here on holiday, I would recommend going off the beaten track. People tend to enjoy going to the city centre, where there are a lot of landmarks I love.

But what I love the most isn’t a square or a sculpture. It’s Via Giulia, a street in the historic part of Rome. There’s nothing specific to see, but I tell people to go there first, and they tend to think it’s just beautiful. It captures the atmosphere of Rome. I know it sounds a bit poetic, but it’s like that.

I also recommend the Trastevere area.

This part of Rome used to be very working class, very much for the masses. Now it’s quite posh. It once was cheap and chic, but it’s no longer cheap at all. It’s amazing. In the summer it’s one of the best spots. The entire area is filled with people, with locals in bars and clubs, sat in restaurants, eating, drinking. It’s very alive.

Via Veneto itself is also nice. It’s a historic street that has been featured in many popular films.

For more information on Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto, visit jumeirah.com, or contact +39 0648 7881, JVVreservations@jumeirah.com

73

Luxurious expertise A curated journey Arranging the nuances of travel can be one of the most stressful parts of a holiday. For Rome, we worked with Pure Entertainment Group, a company that prides itself on creating persoanlised, bespoke packages. Our tour was themed on author Elizabeth Gilbert’s popular memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, featuring a vintage Fiat journey through Rome, a private tour around the Vatican, and the opportunity to cook with an Italian grandmother in her apartment. Purentonline.com

Refined transit When it came to choosing a company for travel between Dubai and Rome, we went with the one that has set the standard: Emirates airline. Our journey began at the Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai. A sizeable private ‘terminal’ with numerous luxury shops, a cigar room, several dining areas, a sit-down restaurant with white tablecloths, sleeping areas, a private spa and more, the lounge ensures that a holiday starts before you fly. The food is splendidly luxurious (a favourite being the rows of fresh sashimi and sushi), and the complimentary 15-minute treatment in the dedicated spa a nice touch. On the spacious flight itself, we enjoyed the fully reclining seats of Emirates Business Class. A three-course meal and extensive beverage menu added to the atmosphere of luxury. For entertainment, Emirates’s range of up-to-date movies satisfied. Staff members were courteous without being overly present, and the environment was one of sumptuous sophistication. By the time we arrived in Italy, we were refreshed, well fed, relaxed, and ready for a true Roman holiday. Flights from Dubai to Rome take just over six hours and run several times throughout the day. Emirates also flies from other locations into Rome. Visit Emirates.com.

Beautiful rest We stayed in the exquisitely elegant Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto. Embracing the splendour of the 1920s, this art deco hotel is located only minutes away from the Spanish Steps on the famous Via Veneto street. Created of two renovated and restored 19th Century villas, Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto offers all the modern amenities you would expect at a five-star property, alongside elegant touches. Particularly nice are original paintings by Picasso, Dali, and Guttuso lining the walls. jumeirah.com

74

>>travel<<

Finally, I make my way to the Castel Sant’Angelo. This impressive building was originally designed as a mausoleum for Roman Emperor Hadrian.

Created around 139 AD, the mausoleum also went through periods of serving as a fortress, and as a Papal residence. Today its round walls house the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo, a museum that speaks of the timelessness of Rome.

Evening I return to Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto for an early dinner. The atmosphere is relaxed with feelings of old-world 1920s grandeur. Guests lounge elegantly on sofas and chairs as the sun sets. I order a drink from the 1920s inspired menu. An array of delicate canapés, including finger sandwiches, cooked meats, and rich crisps, are served complimentary.

For dinner, I order a simple salad that reinvents my understanding of niçoise.

Rather than the traditional over-cooked tuna, the dish is presented with fish delightfully seared on the outside and sashimi-pink on the inside. Poached green beans, salty olives, eggs boiled until their yokes are only just firm, and fresh potatoes compliment the flavours exquisitely.

Next I move to Summertime Sky Bar & Grill, a rooftop terrace venue, to enjoy the evening atmosphere. While food can be ordered here (such as Argentinian beef or lobster cooked fresh on the open-air grill), I opt for a light cocktail.

Ten minutes later, I go for a decadent dessert of rich ice cream served inside an edible chocolate-and-caramel cup shell. The environment is one at once relaxed and uniquely elegant.

Day two Morning A leisurely breakfast is the perfect way to continue my Roman holiday. I sink into a plush seat at Magnolia Restaurant in Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto to read the paper and enjoy a fresh latte. An extensive buffet is available, providing all that would be expected alongside clever additions like swordfish and smoked tuna.

By 10am, I am out the door to explore the neighbouring area. I walk for around 13 minutes to reach the Spanish Steps, a scenic series of steps climbing the slope between the Piazza di Spagna and the Piazza Trinita dei Monti.

This sunlit spot makes for the perfect photo op. At the base of the steps is a museum dedicated to English poet John Keats, and the entire surrounding area is filled with charming baroque architecture.

In Piazza di Spagna, one of the most famous shopping districts in Rome, I stroll through numerous luxury stores. I find everything from Prada to Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana to Miu Miu. The area’s side streets offer smaller high-end brands and numerous leather shops.

To end my afternoon, I grab a gelato, perch on the Spanish Steps, and watch the busy life of Rome continue as it has for thousands of years.

75

EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE A TASTE A TASTE OF EUROPE OF EUROPE TM TM WITHWITH JUMEIRAH JUMEIRAH

Jumeirah Carlton Jumeirah Tower,Carlton LondonTower, London

Jumeirah Lowndes Jumeirah Hotel, Lowndes LondonHotel, London

Grosvenor House Grosvenor Apartments Houseby Apartments Jumeirah Living,

by Jumeirah LondonLiving, Londo

Soak up the Soak spirit upofthe London spirit ofinLondon one of Jumeirah’s in one of Jumeirah’s quintessentially quintessentially British hotels, British Jumeirah hotels, Carlton JumeirahTower Carlton in Knightsbridge, Tower in Knightsbridge, Jumeirah Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel Lowndes in Belgravia Hotel in or Belgravia for stylish or suite for stylish style suite living,style Grosvenor living, Grosvenor House Apartments House Apartments

by Jumeirah

by Living Jumeirah on Park LivingLane. on Park Lane.

Stay in luxury Stay in at luxury Jumeirah at Jumeirah Frankfurt Frankfurt while enjoying while the enjoying bustling thehub bustling of Germany’s hub of Germany’s financial capital, financialimmerse capital, immerse yourself inyourself the in the elegance and elegance culture and of culture Rome atofJumeirah Rome at Grand Jumeirah Hotel Grand Via Hotel Veneto,ViaorVeneto, discoverorthe discover true jewel the true in the jewel Turkish in theCrown, TurkishPera Crown, Palace Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah.

Hotel Jumeirah.

on

Jumeirah Frankfurt, Jumeirah Germany Frankfurt, Germany

Jumeirah Grand Jumeirah Hotel Via Grand Veneto, Hotel Rome Via Veneto, Rome

Book ‘Taste ofand Europe’ enjoy additional to your enhance Book ‘Taste of Europe’ enjoyand additional benefits tobenefits enhance stay*.your stay*.

Complimentary Complimentary breakfast breakfast Food and Food beverage and beverage or spa credit or spa credit Complimentary Complimentary Wi-Fi access Wi-Fi access For moreFor information, more information, please visit please jumeirah.com/tasteofeurope visit jumeirah.com/tasteofeurope or call +971 or 4call 364 +971 7555.

4 364 7555. *Offer subject*Offer to availability. subject toTerms availability. and conditions Terms andapply. conditions apply.

Pera Palace Hotel Pera Jumeirah, Palace Hotel Istanbul Jumeirah, Istanbul

Secret SpaceS

escape into luxury with Jumeirah Vittaveli’s refined Beach Villa Where: Jumeirah Vittaveli, Maldives What: An airy waterfront villa with spacious interiors and direct access to white sandy beaches.

The view: The pristine waters of the Indian Ocean.

Outdoors: Dig your toes into the sand before sinking atop an individual Sala sunbead, then rest within your own private ‘L’ shaped pool.

Highlights: Amenities capture every element of luxury. You can unwind in an open-air bathroom with Terrazzo marble bathtub before swaying gently on a private swing through a landscaped garden. A semi-open rain shower allows you to witness the full beauty of nature.

The venue: Located a 20-minute speed boat ride from Malé, Jumeirah Vittaveli presents subtle luxury perfect for a romantic holiday or a family getaway. With only 89 villas and suites, the resort offers a feeling of intimacy. Each room has a private swimming pool and direct access to the beach. Add to that extensive leisure and health facilities (including a five-star PADI dive centre, Talise Spa, and Talise Fitness) and you have the perfect escape.

Contact: +9606642020, JVMreservations@jumeirah.com, jumeirah.com

78

>>lifestyle<<

79

YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY AWAITS YOU

It’s time to enjoy all the luxuries Burj Al Arab Jumeirah has to offer. Book this exclusive Dream Package and indulge in an array of privileges: · Round trip transfers from/to Dubai International Airport · Stay in a duplex suite with magnificent panoramic views of Dubai skyline and the Arabian Gulf · Lunch or dinner for two at one of our buffet restaurants

· · · ·

Daily breakfast buffet for two 25-minute back, neck and shoulder massage for two 20% discount on food at one of our buffet restaurants And much more.

For more information or to make a reservation, please call us at +971 04 301 7400 or email BAAreservations@jumeirah.com.

>>Your guide to living the jet-set lifestYle with jumeirah<<

The high life:

Der Keller, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai

What: Delicious German food drawn from Austria, Switzerland and

with house-pickled vegetables that feature hints of sweetness. Then

Germany, all served within a cosy alpine-inspired setting.

there are the mains. Hearty, sizeable, and perfectly done, the dishes range from Lunenburg sausage served atop mash with sauerkraut

The atmosphere: Stepping into Der Keller makes you feel like you

to Austrian schnitzel with sweet lingonberry sauce. “I don’t push the

have just skied down a mountain covered in fresh alpine snow. There’s

breadcrumbs onto the meat, which means it stays moist,” explains

wood and exposed brick throughout, accented with deliberately Ger-

Chef Kuropka of the schnitzel. Particularly nice is a dish of pork ribs

man touches (like ‘Damen’ for ‘Ladies’ to mark the restrooms). The

marinated in mustard and onion, cooked over three to four hours,

end result is an atmosphere at once cosy and charming. Even the

and then cooled with beer.

chairs, designed with little cut-outs so the light can come through, look like they’re smiling.

Drinks: Alongside the delicious dishes, you can sip on a range of fullbodied hops and handpicked wines. German reds and whites make

The chef: German national Marcel Kuropka has recently joined the

a particularly meal-appropriate selection.

refurbished restaurant, bringing with him extensive experience in German cuisine.

A sweet treat: Try the ‘shredded pancakes’ (in German called Kaiserschmarrn) for dessert. Much like French toast, this decadent finish

The food: Rustic, simple German food is done well here. Replacing

tops cooked bread with raisins, almonds, and berries.

the usual breadbasket is a mix of warm pretzels and bagel-esque

82

breads, served alongside cream cheese mixed with gherkins, cucum-

Located on Level 1 of Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Der Keller is open daily,

ber, onions, and paprika. A cold cuts platter features hearty Ger-

Sunday through Thursday from 6pm, Friday and Saturday from noon.

man favourites like sausage salad and black forest ham, accented

+97143480000, jbhinfo@jumeirah.com, jumeirah.com

I N C I N EMAS

JAMES BOND’S CHOICE

Available at:

OMEGA Boutiques - Dubai: BurJuman • Deira City Centre • Dubai Mall • Dubai Festival City • Mall of the Emirates • Mina A'Salam • Mirdif City Centre • Sahara Centre • Wafi and at select Rivoli Stores.

Abu Dhabi: Marina Mall • Yas Marina • Toll Free: 800-RIVOLI