Bite into a crispy, piping hot, samosa and what do you find inside? Not the regular spicy-tangy potato filling that has made this savoury starter so iconic across India and beyond, but warm, silky chocolate that oozes out on to your palate to slowly seduce your gastronomic senses. Soon you are staring at Chocomosa's creator and Michelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia with absolute awe, wanting to learn how you could master the preparation of these delicious morsels of chocolaty goodness yourself...
Move on and you'll bump into the legendary Chef Gary Rhodes, the master craftsman who is internationally recognised for presenting food in a way that makes you want to frame it and hang it in an art museum. Once again you wonder if he could teach you a trick or two so that you could up your culinary quotient. Well, at Taste of Dubai, you can.
For three days, starting March 15, both these world class chefs and many like them come out of their steel and chrome kitchens to not only share their expertise but to ensure that you no longer consider cooking rocket science.
This year in its fifth edition the festival promises to provide not just food - thanks to 25 participating restaurants - but entertainment as well.
Apart from the regular restaurants like Indego by Vineet, Rivington Grill, Rhodes Mezzanine and many more, there's going to be a huge line up of new eateries including Zafran, À la Turca and Ronda Locatelli.
If it is your aural senses that you wish to please, you're in luck. The alfresco festival will have a stage that will feature popular resident band Maplejacks, who promise to play music that'll keep you entertained.
To ensure the mega event is attractive to the little ones too, The Kids Zone, an exclusive play area, with several entertaining activities, is back too.
"In 2011, we surpassed all expectations with a new, improved format that was incredibly well-received by visitors, guests and sponsors alike," says Anju Sami, show director. "By reworking the ticket prices to make them more affordable, we made the show more convenient and accessible to a much wider audience," Sami adds. "The response was overwhelming, to say the least."
More than 17,000 people visited Taste of Dubai 2011 making it one of the city's most popular outdoor festivals, and a firm fixture on the social calendar.
Some of the hugely popular features that will be back once again this year, include the Phillips Chefs' Theatre with culinary greats including Gary Rhodes, Vineet Bhatia and others.
The Miele Cookery School will give visitors the opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled masterclass with celebrity chefs in interactive culinary sessions. Chefs will share their skills then put participants through their paces, pushing them to create delicious dishes with their new-found skills.
Of course, there will be the MMI Beverage Theatre where festival-goers can enjoy a drink and increase their beverage knowledge at a series of educational and interactive sessions.
Tickets are now on sale
