What you can expect from this year’s Taste of Abu Dhabi festival

Singer Tony Hadley, the UAE's best-loved restaurants, and chefs from London, Paris, Sydney and Hong Kong promise to make the food and music festival a delightful and delicious affair

Rock shrimp tempura with creamy chilli and garlic sauce from Sho Cho. Courtesy Sho Cho

Gourmet dishes, innovative beverages, and local and international performers are set to make this year’s Taste of Abu Dhabi a grand affair. The three-day event will be held from November 9 to 11, at the du Arena on Yas Island – the festival’s original venue.

British pop star Tony Hadley will be this season’s headline act on opening night. The Gold and Only When You Leave singer-songwriter was the lead singer of the Spandau Ballet.

British musician Tony Hadley will perform on March 7. Courtesy Taste of Abu Dhabi

Dubai-based quartet The Maplejacks, American duo Down Home and Taste of Abu Dhabi and Dubai regulars 4The Music are some of the other musical performances announced so far, in between lively tunes from DJ Krish.

This year’s line-up of chefs, flown in by Etihad Airways, includes: Dean Parker from London restaurant The Manor, Eric Räty from Hong Kong’s Café Gray Delux; Paris-based Gregory Marchand from Frenchie restaurant; and Nathan Sasi from Sydney’s Mercado.

Visitors can also sample signature dishes from UAE restaurants such as Sho Cho, Flooka, The Grill, Melius, Tamba, Hickory’s, Loca, Catch, Cafe Sushi and Leopold’s of London.

Fish shawarma from Flooka

Shelina Permalloo, winner of BBC’s Masterchef 2012, will not only make her Taste of Abu Dhabi debut, but also host masterclasses at Etihad Chef’s Theatre. Visitors can also participate in the Al Ain Dairy Cooking Challenge, hosted and judged by one of the celebrity chefs.

Returning chefs include Indian cuisine specialists Sanjeev Kapoor and Reza Mahammad, and South Africa’s Jenny “Giggling Gourmet” Morris.

Andy Murray cooks with Sanjeev Kapoor, right, at this year's Beach Canteen in Dubai. Courtesy of Dubai Food Festival

For more information, updates or to buy tickets, visit TasteAbuDhabi.com.