Gastronomes can dig into the world cuisines and culinary workshops when the Dubai Food Festival returns next month. The next edition will be a 17-day programme of events, activities, promotions and celebrity chef appearances from February 23.
Organised by Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), the festival bring together the best eats, fine dining, hole-in-the-wall and hidden gems from the emirate and shed light on the latest international food trends.
The festival has been divided into various parts: the Etisalat Beach Canteen, Miele Dubai Restaurant Week and Dubai Hidden Gems.
“Dubai Food Festival is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Dubai’s rich melting pot of cuisine and put our city firmly on the global gastronomy map for the world to see,” says Issam Kazim, the chief executive of DCTCM.
The Etisalat Beach Canteen will be set up at the Sunset Beach in Dubai, paired with entertainment, fitness challenges and family activities for free.
Home-grown restaurants, Emirati cafes and food lorries will take their spots to serve up street eats and a casual dining experience.
There will also be masterclasses by meat company Al Islami, which will be run by celebrity chefs. Fitness enthusiasts can sign up for beach yoga classes, as well. Luxury dining will be in the spotlight during the Miele Dubai Restaurant Week from February 23 until March 4.
Some of Dubai’s fine dining restaurants, including Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen at Atlantis, The Palm, Pierchic in Madinat Jumeirah and Scape Restaurant at the Burj Al Arab will offer a limited edition three-course dinner menu for Dh199, which can be booked on www.roundmenu.com
There will also be special menus at Marina Social, Social by Heinz Beck) and Gary Rhodes W1. Residents can also participate in the Dubai Hidden Gems competition (www.dubaihiddengems.com) to support their favourite restaurant or cafe in the city now.
The top 10 restaurants on the list will be part of a special tour that residents can attend during the festival.
Voters also have the opportunity to win a three-night stay at a luxury boutique hotel in Dubai’s old district and a luxury dinner experience. Organisers have also introduced a citywide promotion giving residents a chance to win instant prizes at more than 1,000 restaurants.
Diners who spend Dh30 at participating restaurants will receive on-the-spot prizes and a chance to enter the grand draw to win a luxury studio apartment in Dubai.
Travellers to the city can get in on the action by participating in the airport promotion, with a chance to win a five-star holiday for two.
More on www.dubaifoodfestival.com or hope on to the festival’s instagram account on www.instagram.com/dubaifoodfest/
