Food for the soul in Ras Al Khaimah

The Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Ras Al Khaimah adds a new foodie touch to its superb stay package.

IT MAY BE near impossible to improve on perfection, however the Banyan Tree Al Wadi appears to have just about done it. The hotel may be one of the most luxurious resorts, certainly in the UAE if not the world, offering its unique desert escapes. However, the sprawling reserve, often cited as the UAE's premier environmentally and socially responsible place to stay, is further embracing its locality -Ras Al Khaimah - and enhancing its guests' experiences with its new Soul Food package.
Adding a bespoke touch to the standard cookery class, the new Soul Food package takes you on a gastronomic journey to discover traditional cuisine that is at the heart and soul of the local area. From selecting ingredients in a nearby market to serving up sensational dishes in the stunning all day dining Al Waha Restaurant, guests are able to explore even more of UAE culture.
The experience starts with a trip to Ras Al Khaimah's fish or poultry market, 20 minutes away from the resort under the guidance of one of the hotel's chefs. Here, you're shown what to look for when selecting local ingredients. On returning to the hotel, you are then taught how to combine flavours to complement the dish, choosing herbs from the resort's organic garden.
During the cookery classes, you are given step-by-step instructions on how to prepare and cook the dish before the real fun starts and you get to sit down and enjoy the meal you have prepared along with a complimentary house beverage in Al Waha.
Heading up the kitchens at the two Banyan Tree resorts in Ras Al Khaimah, Executive Chef Nugraha originates from Indonesia. He developed a passion for cooking at a young age and has worked in kitchens around the world. Soul Food gives Chef Nugraha the chance to share his knowledge and expertise of local and international flavours. Offering fish, meat and vegetarian options, the Soul Food experience allows you to learn about organic ingredients and locally inspired dishes such as pan-fried nimi with kalamata olive and tomato sauce, cuttlefish salad and goat broth with chickpea dumplings.
The Soul Food package includes a visit to the fish or poultry market in Ras Al Khaimah with a chef, selecting herbs from the organic garden and a cooking class for up to a maximum of 10 guests.
The Soul Food package starts from Dhs290 person, available every Saturday morning until December 31. Booking at least 24 hours in advance is mandatory.
10 Fun Facts About Ras Al Khaimah:
1. The Arabic name 'Ras Al Khaimah' means 'top of the tent', referring to its location in the Northernmost part of the UAE.
2. Ahmad Bin Majid was an Arab navigator and cartographer born in 1421 in Ras Al Khaimah. He is known as the first Arab seaman and became famous in the West as the navigator who helped Vasco da Gama find his way from Africa to India.
3. Ras Al Khaimah is home to the highest mountain in the UAE. Standing tall at 1,910 meters, Jebel Jais is ideal for both mountain climbing and mountain biking with impressive views from the summit.
4. Al Wahabiyyah is one of the oldest art forms in Ras Al Khaimah and is unique to this emirate. This folkdance is usually performed on special occasions, feast days and at wedding parties.
5. The emirate is home to one of the top date farms in the UAE, offering no less than 18 different types of dates.
6. The historical fishing village of Al Jazirat Al Hamra, sitting just outside Ras Al Khaimah city, features traditional coral-block architecture and is a reminder of life before the oil boom.
7. Ras Al Khaimah boasts 62 kilometers of white sandy beaches, with clear blue water and watersports aplenty from banana boat rides and body boarding to wakeboarding and windsurfing.
8. The Ras Al Khaimah National Museum features traditional weapons, which belong to the ruling family as well as archaeological displays illustrating the earliest settlers in the area.
9. Ras Al Khaimah has a rich history dating back to the Bronze Age, which makes it one of the few places in the world that has been continuously lived in for over 7,000 years.
10. There are 18 historic fortifications, castles and towers still standing in Ras Al Khaimah.
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• Ras Al Khaimah