Food news: Now Cafe opens in Dubai and breakfast at The Ivy

This week in local food news: a new cafe option in Dubai; a blind taste-test contest; a food fest focused on Peru.

Now Cafe is open from 7.30am to 10pm daily and can be found on Dubai Mall's ground floor. Photo courtesy Now Cafe

Now Cafe is a new dining spot in The Dubai Mall that serves sandwiches, soups, salads, baked potatoes, desserts and chocolates. Customers can order from the menu, or pick an item off the central conveyer belt which is continually restocked as the chefs prepare new dishes. Now Cafe is open from 7.30am to 10pm daily and can be found on the mall's ground floor.

Try a blind taste-test

Visitors to Taste of Dubai (March 14-16) can try a new Dine in the Dark concept. The chef Andy Campbell will present his guests with three canapés (accompanied by a drink) to blind taste-test, before asking them to identify what they're eating. Those who guess correctly will be entered into a draw to win a home-cooked dinner cooked by Campbell worth Dh5,000.

Gagnaire goes literary

The Michelin-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire is returning to Dubai for the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. On March 6 he'll be hosting a Literary Lunch at his restaurant Reflet, where guests will be treated to a Q&A session with the chef and be able to try dishes from the menu. The event begins at 12.30pm and tickets cost Dh230 per person. Book at www.tickets.emirateslitfest.com.

Taste of Peru festival

From February 28 to March 2, Madinat Jumeirah is holding a Taste of Peru festival in the Souk Amphitheatre. Each evening from 6pm, stalls will be set up selling classic Peruvian dishes, while live music comes courtesy of the Peruvian band Peru Adnino, who are flying in specially for the event. Visit jumeirah.com/tasteofperu.

Breakfast at The Ivy

The Ivy in Jumeirah Emirates Towers is now open for breakfast. The reasonably priced menu features seasonal fruit platters, granola, eggs on toast, omelettes and a bread basket. There are also more substantial items available - think duck hash with a double yolked egg and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. For reservations, call 04 319 8767.

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