Sixteen days' extravagance of cuisine and vintages with star-studded culinary experts from around the world — 18 master chefs from 12 countries, 25 Michelin stars — who will serve a culinary feast across 20 host venues; this is what the fourth edition of Gourmet Abu Dhabi (GAD), starting February 8, promises to be. Marrying culture and cuisine, GAD will offer a bundle of 50 activities for gourmands in the UAE.
Free masterclasses, in which only three ladies per class will learn the art from the world's best, will be held, while master chef dinners and château dinners will also take place. New additions for 2012 include special themed dinners such as Scottish, cheese and a comedy night, where award-winning international comedian Ennio Marchetto will bring a touch of humour to GAD. At the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Yas Island, on February 9, Marchetto's brand of humour will be accompanied by culinary creations by Michelin-star chef William Ledeuil.
"It will be a night to remember in the company of two multi-award-winning professionals who have each revolutionised their particular arts," said Noura Al Dhaheri of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
Marchetto has transformed the art of origami into theatrical magic. Backed by an eclectic soundtrack, he uses his dynamic, physical comedy and ingenious costumes to magically morph into parodies of superstars and historic characters. "My act will have cross-nationality appeal as my songs are in English but the act is mainly a visual spectacle where speech is not required," Marchetto said.
Cheesy all the way
If you are a cheese lover, the cheese dinner at the Beach Rotana hotel on February 21 will be hosted by Swiss TV food commentator and representative of the Central European Culinary School, Michelin-star chef Denis Martin. Martin will also conduct a free masterclass at the Armed Forces Officers Club (AFOC) the next day, and will serve the second course at the event's awards dinner at the Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi on February 23.
"The task set for me is to deliver a cheese evening with a distinctly modern twist, so I am creating a cheese fondue named ‘Vision 2012' and a menu of modern dishes using Swiss, Italian and French cheeses," Martin said.
Michelin-star chef Juan Amador will formally open the Amador Restaurant and Cellar at the Park Rotana Hotel on February 9 as part of the food festival.
"The restaurant will serve a combination of European and Arabian cuisine and mix of cultures, flavours and aromas," Amador said. "It will combine characteristics of my existing cuisine and what I learnt about local tastes when I visited earlier in the year."
Combining food cultures
Japanese celebrity Chef Hal Yamashita is conducting a free masterclass at the Abu Dhabi Officers Club on February 9. Hosting an epicurean dinner promotion at the Yacht Club in the InterContinental Abu Dhabi from February 9-12, Yamashita is determined to marry the beauty of Japanese cuisine and UAE ingredients. "This is my first time in Abu Dhabi and I have discovered a lot about the availability of fresh, quality produce. The markets are filled with products and ingredients from across the Arab world and combining the best of these I will create beautifully diverse and character-rich dishes," he said.
If you love Middle Eastern food and want to learn recipes of the host country, you can get up close and personal with this distinguished cuisine through a free culinary class offered by Emirati chef Khulood Atiq, who works as the Middle Eastern and Emirati cuisine specialist at the Tourism Development and Investment Company. Khulood will hold her masterclass at the AFOC from 9-11am on February 9.
Gourmet Abu Dhabi Stars Awards will also reward individuals and restaurants deemed to have most significantly contributed to the evolution of the domestic food and beverage scene. Winners in ten categories will be unveiled during a glittering awards ceremony that closes the fourth edition of the annual festival.
