ABU DHABI // Food lovers flocked to see their favourite chefs in action, toured the 25 restaurant stalls serving up signature dishes, and made a beeline for the cooking school on the second day of Taste of Abu Dhabi yesterday.
Among this year’s attractions were the chef’s theatre, cookery school, family lounge, kids’ zone and entertainment stage with live acts and D Js.
The three-day festival, which drew thousands to Yas Island’s du Arena, ends today.
“It is great to be here in Abu Dhabi again,” said celebrity master patissier Eric Lanlard, who has regularly appeared on British television shows.
At the chef’s theatre, Lanlard showed guests how to bake and decorate a Death by Chocolate ganache cake and an orange and lavender cake with 24-carat edible gold leaf.
“For the two recipes, we’ll have a zesty one on one side, nice and light, and on the other side we’ve got a rich chocolate cake, which is perfect for this time of the year.”
Abu Dhabi resident Cathy Mather, from Manchester in England, said she enjoyed the way that Lanlard interacted with his audience.
“He’s always very knowledgeable and he knows what he’s talking about,” she said. “I came from a catering background, and my son wants to do it when he leaves school. My son wrote his recipes down so we’re going to make them.”
Lanlard’s publicist, Jean Egbunike, who had flown in from London for the festival, was pleased to see the celebrity chef’s fans in the capital.
“Taste of Abu Dhabi just has a nice vibe,” she said. “The food, the music, the weather, what’s not to love?
“It is very hot but nice to be in the sunshine. It is November and it is great, and wet and cold in London so it is actually a real treat to be here.”
Also making an appearance at chef’s theatre yesterday were celebrity chefs Siba Mtongana, Valentine Warner, MasterChef India winner Izu Ani, Reza Mahammad, Jenny Morris, Suzanne Husseini, Jose Pizarro, Steven Edwards and Joshua Stanzl.
“It is nice to see all the other chefs and see what Abu Dhabi has to offer,” Ms Egbunike said. “We tasted such incredible food.”
Everything at this year’s event stepped up a scale, with 25 restaurants taking part compared with last year’s 18, each lined up along the perimeter of the venue.
Each restaurant serves up small portions of their signature dishes for as little as Dh15, with prices rising to Dh40 per dish.
“It is just a nice day out,” said Charmaine D’Souza, 43, a banker in Abu Dhabi.
“I’ve watched Eric Lanlard on TV and like his desserts. I’m also a big Siba fan so I’m looking forward to her show along with Food Network star Reza Mohammed.”
An indoor entertainment centre, Funky Monkey Kids’ Zone, kept children entertained with cooking classes, carnival games and a big bouncy slide.
rruiz@thenational.ae
