Double Michelin-starred celebrity chef Vineet Bhatia singled out the the UAE for the launch his latest, award-winning recipe book.
The Indian culinary star stopped by at his signature restaurant, Indego by Vineet, to celebrate the release of dessert compendium My Sweet Kitchen.
“Indian desserts are really sweet, really heavy” joked Bhatia. “Delicious – but it goes straight to your lips, and then to your hips.
“I tried to make recipes which were very light.”
Guests at the intimate launch event, on April 19, were served highlights from the book’s selection, which took Bhatia all of 18 months to compile.
The UAE launch follows similar events in Bahrain and Paris, where the self-published book was nominated “against the big boys” at the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Awards – winning in the national chef category.
According to the blurb, the luscious tome promises sweet treats which “merge influences from East and West, playing on sharp versus sweet, warm versus cold and soft versus crisp, showcasing a range of simple and show-stopping desserts.”
Several of the recipes are now set to be rolled out into the a la carte menus at Bhatia’s restaurants across the world.
As well as being the first Indian chef to be recognised with a Michelin star – picking up his first star in 2001 for London-based Zaika – Bhatia was also one of the first celebrity chefs to invest in Dubai, opening trademark venue Indego in Grosvenor House back in 2005. A brief association with Ashiana, in the Sheraton Dubai Creek, ended last year.
My Sweet Kitchen is released on May 15, and will be available to buy directly from Indego by Vineet, Grosvenor House, priced Dh180.
