Taste of Dubai: The city's top chefs share what signature dishes they plan to serve


Panna Munyal
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As open-air food festival Taste of Dubai gears up to make its return next month after a two-year hiatus, The National asked participating chefs what they'll be offering.

The event, taking place from February 3 to 5, will also include a range of masterclasses hosted by celebrity chefs, a music and entertainment line-up and a new Taste of Hilton farm-to-table pop-up.

The main event, however, is dishes served from some of the UAE's most popular restaurants at discounted prices.

The 15 restaurants taking part are: 11 Woodfire, Akira Back, Brasserie Boulud, Bushra by Buddha-Bar, Carnival by Tresind, Fi'lia, Goldfish, Indya by Vineet, Lowe, Reif Japanese Kushiyaki, Rhodes W1, Shang Palace, Sucre, The Nine and Torno Subito.

Here's some of what diners can expect.

Scroll through the gallery above for more dishes on offer at the event.

Wagyu truffle slider

Wagyu truffle slider, Dh40, 11 Woodfire
Wagyu truffle slider, Dh40, 11 Woodfire

11 Woodfire, one of 11 Michelin-starred restaurants in Dubai, will dish out its Wagyu truffle slider, with mushroom duxelles and aged gouda cheese, for Dh40 a pop. It's usually Dh85 for a full burger at the restaurant.

Chef Akmal Anuar also got a mention in the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand category for Otoro in Abu Dhabi.

Marble tuna bun

Fellow Michelin-lauded Singaporean chef Reif Othman, who helms Reif Japanese Kushiyaki, will serve an artistic-looking marble tuna bun for Dh40 that's not on the menu at his Dar Al Wasl venue. The steamed bun will also be filled with date maguro tartare and shiso tempura.

Reif Japanese Kushiyaki was honoured by the Michelin Guide Dubai in the Bib Gourmand category.

Butter chicken

Butter chicken, price to be determined, Indya by Vineet
Butter chicken, price to be determined, Indya by Vineet

Celebrity chef Vineet Bhatia will dish out his signature butter chicken, the price of which is yet to be confirmed, but is likely to be less than half of its Dh90 price tag at Bhatia's Dubai restaurant Indya by Vineet.

Burgundy snails

For a taste of French cuisine's most coveted dish, stop over at the Brasserie Boulud stall for Burgundy snails laid in a bed of milk bread with roasted garlic and parsley butter for Dh30. They're priced at Dh85 on the Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk restaurant's menu.

Lamb chops

Lamb chops, Dh40, Carnival by Tresind
Lamb chops, Dh40, Carnival by Tresind

Elsewhere, Carnival by Tresind will serve a portion of lamb chops for Dh40, which is on the non-vegetarian starters section of its menu for Dh120.

The meat is served with restaurant-style accompaniments of vegetable chokha, green pepper sauce and pickled plums.

Tiramisu

When it comes to desserts, Fi'lia is offering the Italian restaurant's version of tiramisu for Dh20. The light mascarpone cream and Savoiardi espresso syrup creation is normally priced at Dh50.

A Middle Eastern tiramisu is also be had at the Bushra by Buddha-Bar counter for Dh25. The Turkish coffee, cardamom and sweet orange blossom concoction is normally priced at Dh65.

Eton mess

Another stall offering a sweet treat is British gastro restaurant The Nine. Its Eton mess, with white chocolate, meringue and strawberries, is available at Taste of Dubai for Dh25 (down from Dh49 on the menu at Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk).

Taste of Dubai is at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre from 3pm to midnight on February 3; noon to midnight on February 4; and noon to 10pm on February 5. Tickets start from Dh75, and more information is at tasteofdubaifestival.com

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Where to buy art books in the UAE

There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.

In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show. 

In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.

In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.

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Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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Dubai Bling season three

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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Updated: January 27, 2023, 10:52 AM