ABU DHABI // Theatre performances will be among the new events at this year's Emirates International Date Palm Festival in Abu Dhabi.
An index showcasing the different dates available in the region will be another new addition to the popular event.
The festival, organised by Turret Media with the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and Date Palm Friends Society, will be held from November 26 to December 1 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. It is being hosted with the Salon International de l'Agroalimentaire (International Food Industry Exhibition).
"The festival has several angles - fun, culture and heritage, and business," said Mohamed Jalal Al Reyaysa, the chairman of the festival's organising committee. "We expect more visitors, more business deals and cultural events. It appeals to families, children, businessmen and buyers."
In its sixth year, the event aims to educate visitors about the UAE's rich history of palm trees and dates and provide a business platform. It will showcase 160 exhibitors and offer family entertainment.
There will be 500 varieties of date from 18 countries, plus perfumes, organic dates, date ice cream and ladies' accessories made from palm trees. The date palm theatre, organised with the Abu Dhabi Education Council, will feature plays, dances, competitions and fashion shows by about 50 schools.
Residents will get the rare chance to name and plant their own palm tree, plus there will be a date-tasting area, a tree-climbing competition and a heritage village. Visitors also have the chance to win prizes.
For more information, visit www.datepalmfestival.net.
rruiz@thenational.ae
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $49,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.05pm Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner El Patriota, Vagner Leal, Antonio Cintra
7.40pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,000m
Winner Ya Hayati, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Althiqa, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Soft Whisper, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Bedouin’s Story, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
