Abu Dhabi Foodie News: bread baking class, a Waitangi Day celebration and two new brunches

Love bread? Then mark your calendars. Master baker Rainer Scharold from Friedberg, Germany will be in the capital hosting master baking classes on February 19 and 20. Scharold– whose bakery has been in his family for five generations– will share his family’s baking secrets in classes at Cafe’Dalsace as part of this year’s Gourmet Abu Dhabi.

• Classes are from 3pm to 5pm for Dh250 per person, inclusive of afternoon tea and pastry. Cafe D’Alsace is on Yas Island, next to Yas Marina Circuit. Call 050 811 5414.

Sacci, the new restaurant that replaced Agadir at the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, has just launched a new brunch. The family style brunch will offer just what you’d expect at an Italian feast: Italian pastas, antipasti, pizzas, main dishes and desserts.

• Every Friday from 12:30pm to 4pm. Dh230 per person. For reservations, call 02 616 9999. Visit www.sacciabudhabi.com

Stills Brasserie & Bar has two new promotions this month. On Friday, celebrate Waitangi Day with a menu featuring New Zealand treats. Waitangi Day is a public holiday in New Zealand that honours the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, which is New Zealand’s founding document. There will be lots to keep the littles entertained – including a bouncy castle.

• From 12:30pm to 4pm. Dh160+, kids under age five eat free. Dh80 for kids ages six to 12. The venue will also launch their Stills Terrace Brunch on Friday, February 20. Choose any three courses from the menu or opt for the carvery. Dh200+. Stills Brasserie & Bar is in the Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi on Yas Island. Call 02 656 3000.

Race card

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; 5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; 6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme

Priority access to new homes from participating developers
Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
Flexible payment plans from developers
Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

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