Taste of Dubai: It's a foodies' paradise

There are those who live to eat and there are those who eat to live… and then there are those who love to eat.

If you fall in any of these categories — or all — then the hotly anticipated Taste of Dubai festival which opened Wednesday is the place you should head for.

Billed as the ‘World's Greatest Restaurant Festival', the annual event brings together a selection of the city's top restaurants in a stylish al fresco setting.

Some of Dubai's most acclaimed restaurants, including Awtar, Elia, Indego, iZ, Momotaro, Rhodes Mezzanine, Sezzam, Sumibiya and Verre, among others, are taking part in the Gulf News-sponsored festival.

Foodies not only get an opportunity to sample culinary delights from around the world at a fraction of their original price, but also the chance to get up close and personal with the master chefs.

Visitors can learn from gastronomic masters such as Gary Rhodes, Vineet Bhatia, Antony Worrall Thompson, James Martin and Giorgio Locatelli, among others, as they conjure up signature dishes in live cooking demos, or go to war with their cache of secret spices and recipes under the Chefs Challenge. A special Cookery School, where master chefs will teach professional skills and techniques, can make you the toast among family and friends.

CHEF TALK

Event favourite Gary Rhodes reckons a strong family spirit gives the festival its distinctive edge. "There are now ‘Taste' festivals in other parts of the world, but I believe that this one is the best and will continue to get better," he said.

Rhodes, who will also be unveiling his new restaurant Rhodes Twenty 10 at the fest, added, "The best part is you get to share your food with a much wider audience and, of course, getting an opportunity to eat a lot of exciting food from the best restaurants in town."

Chef Scott Price from the Dubai branch of the Gordon Ramsay restaurant agreed. "I'm looking forward to get involved with many chefs and people and see what they have to offer," he said.

Scott will showcase signature dishes developed by him and Ramsay at Verre restaurant. "Through this event, I can learn a lot about local produce, recipes, restaurants and promote Verre," he said.

Chef Paul from Ruth Chris's Steak House is looking forward to meeting colleagues from the business. "I think it's a great opportunity to get to know and mingle with other chefs and people, so that they can sample our dishes."

Chef Paul will be showcasing the steak-house's signature dish, Fillet Oscar, which is a fillet steak with asparagus, crab cake and a béarnaise sauce.

If you feel thirsty after sampling all that food, head to the Water Lounge for a refreshing mocktail of flavoured waters. If you're still thirsty, there's always the beverage theatre where you can sample some heady stuff prepared by skilled mixologists.

Time to relax

After all the gluttony, you can relax in the company of music acts such as Danny Shiran and Dahab, among others, while Resident DJ Zara Soar of Dubai Eye 103.8 will keep up the tempo with some cool jazz.

- The writer is a student of journlism at Dubai Men's college

Good food guide

THURSDAY

9pm Live cooking demo by chef Vineet Bhatia followed by book signing.

9.45pm Chefs Simon and Antonio battle it out in an Italian challenge with viewers picking the winner.

10.45 Chef James Martin shows how to make a tasty meal from crispy bread and crumbed squid with creamy ponzu dressing.

FRIDAY

12.30pm Live cooking demo by chef Antony Worrall Thompson.

1.15pm Chefs Paul Lupton and Duncan Cruikshank battle it out in a Chefs Challenge.

7.30pm Live cooking demo by chef Scott Price.

9pm: Chef Gary Rhodes whips up a dish of scallops with ginger spring greens and passion fruit hollandaise and risotto rice pudding.

SATURDAY

1.15pm: Chefs demonstration: Chef Xiyang Xu "Sunny" Dim Sum.

2pm: Indian cooking challenge, with viewers picking the winner.

7.30pm Live demo by chef Giorgio Locatelli and his parents.

8.15pm Chefs Sam and Junichi battle it out for top honours in a Sushi Challenge.