ABU DHABI // A programme launched by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority will ensure that the emirate’s four- and five-star hotels feature and promote Emirati cuisine.
Under the Emirati Cuisine & Hospitality Capacity Building Programme initiative, all-day dining restaurants in the hotels are encouraged to serve an Emirati culinary station with a minimum of three items clearly labelled on breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets.
In addition, each dish will feature a tent card explaining the brief history of the food and the ingredients used. Room service menus will feature a minimum of two Emirati breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes in a la carte and room service menus.
By collaborating with industry partners, TCA Abu Dhabi will train and accredit culinary employees with the basic skills required to prepare Emirati cuisine and reference its rich heritage. It will also conduct competitions to identify the best Emirati culinary promotion programme‚ and the best chef for Emirati cuisine.
The programme will also establish a framework of regular training, monitoring and reviewing in order to ensure that Emirati culinary items are featured in food and beverage outlets in the finest hotels and hotel apartments across the emirate, according to the TCA Abu Dhabi.
“Abu Dhabi is a melting pot of cultures and the authenticity of Emirati cuisine has been somewhat lost in the contemporary renditions of traditional cuisine,” said Saif Saeed Ghobash, director general of TCA Abu Dhabi. “Through this programme, we strive to conserve and promote the emirate’s culture, history and traditions. A key to that is using our rich cuisine to ensure optimal engagement for visitors seeking fully immersive cultural experiences.”
newsdesk@thenational.ae
