What’s cooking at Taste of Dubai?

Restaurants

A key highlight of the year, the Italian Pavilion brings you a little slice of Italy.

The 700 square metre pavilion features a cooking theatre where Michelin-starred chefs, food artisans and ingredients producers will hold master classes and demonstrations; a pop-up restaurant involving Dubai’s best Italian restaurants; a pop-up pizzeria involving Dubai’s best Italian pizzerias; Italian products and services, including a pop-up Italian gelateria serving the best Italian gelato and a Italian espresso bar for tasting the real Italian espresso.

Visitors will also be treated to the fascinating show of Italian food artisans: acrobatic pizza chefs, mozzarella making, gelato making, espresso and more.

The pavilion will also host ‘The Best Italian Pizza in the UAE’ competition where 10 Italian pizzerias of Dubai will compete on March 10. A jury of experts will evaluate the pizzas and select the best one in town.

Being held for the first, Butter Kitchen is a pop up restaurant-like corner that will host gastronomic workshops.

Two professionals (French Chef Charles Soussin and dairy specialist Francois Robin) will explain how and why butter is essential to enhance flavours from starters to desserts. You will also learn about the butter-making process and experience cooking with butter gastronomic tips, and get hands-on lesson on how to prepare flavoured butter and how to gastronomise a dish with butter.

Describe your previous Taste of Dubai experience and stand a chance to win flights and accommodation to Rome for two people. All you have to do is:

Register your details
Scroll through your social media pictures
Share your #TasteofDubai memory on Instagram
Say three words to describe your experience
Tag #tasteofdubai #tastyfandxb, #AirMilesME

Don’t worry, you can get involved by attending this year and taking a selfie of your ‘perfect moment’. The more likes and posts your images get, the better chance of winning!

The competition will close on March 10.

Taste of Dubai is known for bringing top music acts such as Billy Ocean and Boney M. This year, eighties legends Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge will be performing on March 8, singing some of their greatest hits, including We Are Family, He’s the Greatest Dancer and My Guy (see also Around Town). Other acts include UAE’s top DJ Darryl Rees, Salha - one of the most sought after female vocalists in the Middle East, Italian Swing band Mark Zitti ei Fratelli Coltelli, Dubai-based 4TheMusic and Flamenco artists from Spain.

The VIP Lounge is situated in prime position near the stage, within easy reach of all major features. The lounge has its own private bar and lounge seating to make your day much more comfortable and enjoyable. The VIP ticket includes: unlimited access to the VIP Lounge; two complimentary drinks; three food vouchers from any of the participating restaurants.

From bouncy castles, inflatable darts, bungee jumping, zipline to arts and crafts, pizza making and face painting there will be plenty of activities to keep your children entertained.

Have you got what it takes to impress the chefs? Throughout the three days, a cooking challenge will take place whereby you will be able to cook along with one of the celebrity chefs on site. You will need to sign up on site 30 minutes before the challenge begins. At the end of each session, the chef will judge each dish and choose a winner.

This year Reel Cinemas will be screening family movies, so check out the schedule and make sure you don’t miss them! You will also have the chance to find out about their new dine-in cinema experience.

March 8: Fantastic Beasts and where to find them (8pm)
March 9: Guardians of the Galaxy (3pm); Spiderman Homecoming (8pm)
March 10: Kung Fu Panda 3 (2pm); Captain America 3 (7pm)

When: March 8-10
Where: Dubai Media City Amphitheatre
Tickets: Dh80-Dh285
Call: 04-234 8481
More info: tasteofdubaifestival.com