Dubai: A Dubai restaurant has taken healthy eating to a new level by introducing a novel concept of having dinner with a doctor.
Located in the Sunset Mall on Jumeirah Beach Road, the Sesame Restaurant’s ‘Dinner with doctor’ series is aimed at giving guests an opportunity to learn about the importance of having a nutrient rich diet and achieving overall wellbeing from a specialist invitee, while enjoying a four-course meal.
Irina Sharma, co-founder of the restaurant, told XPRESS, the first session began with the renowned Chinese medicine practitioner Dr Yongjie Lu from Dubai’s Synergy Clinic. “Educating guests on how to eat well, move well and think well is the cornerstone of the Sesame belief system. Through nutrition, exercise, adjustments and thinking we can accomplish holistic well-being. During the first session, Dr Lu shared his insights on a range of concerns from allergies and back pain to depression and insomnia.”
An advocate of a “healthy longevity lifestyle”, she said, “The Sesame plant-forward diet is not about consuming just fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other plant-based foods. It is a non-restrictive diet that still allows for consumption of meat, but the focus is turned towards a more conscious consumption that will help people have and maintain a healthier lifestyle, while still enjoying the foods and flavours that they are accustomed to.”
She said the nutrient quotient of the food served by Sesame is high as it benefits from inputs by experts like founding partner Neha Jamani, a holistic chef from Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition & Culinary Arts in Berkeley and restaurant chef Gohei Kishi, a food development consultant. She said the menu is drawn up in consultation with the doctor. The dinner with Dr Lu had a hibiscus and vanilla cooler with a beetroot and walnut spread. This was followed by celeriac and pear soup with herb and seed crumble, spinach risotto with salmon or spring vegetables and salted chocolate pot, all of which was washed down with a warm ginger infusion.
She said, “Our menus are about bright flavours, homemade spices and sauces with different textures. It combines our love of buying local whenever possible, liberal use of vegetables and super foods. We give out cards with each item to highlight the benefits of the ingredients used.”
The next session in the series will be held on February 12 and will feature Dr Harald Stossier, founder and medical director of the Austrian medical resort Vivamayr.
