Eat, drink and make merry at Taste of Dubai

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Eat, drink and make merry at Taste of Dubai
FANCY A CAMEL BURGER ANYONE?

Dubai - Food lovers are also treated to live cooking demonstrations and they can get their hands on cooking while learning from some of the world's top Michelin chefs.

By Angel Tesorero

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Published: Fri 11 Mar 2016, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Sat 12 Mar 2016, 3:10 PM

Dubai is a melting pot of cultures and it's only fair to say that the city is also a buffet of flavours. From traditional Emirati dishes to spicy Thai food, Japanese cuisine, British fare, Italian specialties, French gourmet food, Dutch delights and more, the eclectic and diverse taste of Dubai creates a harmonious taste that you will not find anywhere else.
The 'Taste of Dubai', now in its ninth year, proves just that. The three-day food, drink and music festival which runs until Saturday at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre offers Dubai residents a line-up of 20 fine-dining restaurants and a host of Michelin-starred celebrity chefs who are giving live-cooking demo.
People of all ages (and tastes) sit back, relax and soak up the sounds listening to live entertainment while heartily tucking in their food.
"We come here every year," British expat Simon Johnson tells Khaleej Times. "There is a great variety of flavours; the chefs are selling out their best dishes and this gives you an idea which best restaurants you may want to check out across town," adds Simon, whose favourite is Bread Street Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay and went to the event with wife Claire and kids Maisie and Max.
'Taste' is an annual festival which happens in 22 cities throughout the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
Food lovers are also treated to live cooking demonstrations and they can get their hands on cooking while learning from some of the world's top Michelin chefs.
British-Portuguese expat Chris Barltett says it was a fantastic idea" that he was able to learn how to prepare Hare Masala Kee Macchi with his 11-year old daughter Casia. And the one who taught them how to do it was renowned culinary expert Atul Kochhar, the first Indian chef to win a coveted Michelin star.
Other international chefs who shared their passion in cooking were Jenny Morris, Reza Mohammad, Alfred Prasad, Nathan Outlaw, Tom Aikens, Tim Anderson, Paolo Pettenuzzo and Jun Tanaka.
To learn more, visit www.tasteofdubaifestival.com.
angel@khaleejtimes.com

EET SMAKELIJK (bon appetit) ...  Dutch chef Ian Oosterwijk serves a couple of Brit kids mini pancakes with recipes brought directly from Holland. “The mini-delights are soft inside and not too sweet,” says Ossterwijlk. “You can put all the toppings that you want and Eet Smakelijk!
EET SMAKELIJK (bon appetit) ... Dutch chef Ian Oosterwijk serves a couple of Brit kids mini pancakes with recipes brought directly from Holland. “The mini-delights are soft inside and not too sweet,” says Ossterwijlk. “You can put all the toppings that you want and Eet Smakelijk!
TASTE OF TOKYO ... Japanese chef Aijiro Shinoda from Atisuto restaurant cooks mouth-watering Tokyo-style Yakisoba, stir-fried noodles which is a very popular casual food in Japan. What makes it special? “When you cook, you have to put your heart into it and the food becomes an expression of your love,” he says.
TASTE OF TOKYO ... Japanese chef Aijiro Shinoda from Atisuto restaurant cooks mouth-watering Tokyo-style Yakisoba, stir-fried noodles which is a very popular casual food in Japan. What makes it special? “When you cook, you have to put your heart into it and the food becomes an expression of your love,” he says.
INTRICATE THAI TASTE ...  “Different ingredients creating a harmonious taste is what defines Thai cuisine,” says Melanie Rosas from Royal Orchid Dubai. “In each dish you will taste something that is sour, sweet, spicy, bitter and salty. Never simple, always complex and definitely filling.”
INTRICATE THAI TASTE ... “Different ingredients creating a harmonious taste is what defines Thai cuisine,” says Melanie Rosas from Royal Orchid Dubai. “In each dish you will taste something that is sour, sweet, spicy, bitter and salty. Never simple, always complex and definitely filling.”
BOTTOMS UP ... Of course, after tasting various delights from around the world at the three-day Taste of Dubai event, you need a refreshing drink. Nigil Joy serves Lava Lamp, a refreshing concoction of mango, passion fruit, blackberry, red currant and garnished with rosemary.
BOTTOMS UP ... Of course, after tasting various delights from around the world at the three-day Taste of Dubai event, you need a refreshing drink. Nigil Joy serves Lava Lamp, a refreshing concoction of mango, passion fruit, blackberry, red currant and garnished with rosemary.
DAD AND DAUGHTER’S DAY OUT ... Turkish expat Osman Hatipoglu bonds with his 15-month old daughter Ayda. “We were here last year and we liked it a lot so we came back this year. There are many different types of food according to anyone’s liking and lots of activities too for kids,” says Hatipoglu.
DAD AND DAUGHTER’S DAY OUT ... Turkish expat Osman Hatipoglu bonds with his 15-month old daughter Ayda. “We were here last year and we liked it a lot so we came back this year. There are many different types of food according to anyone’s liking and lots of activities too for kids,” says Hatipoglu.
COOKING FOR DAD ... Eleven-year old Casia Bartlett says she’s afraid of the pan lest she burns herself but adds, “it’s been a fantastic experience to cook for her dad with the recipe by renowned chef Atul Kochhar.
COOKING FOR DAD ... Eleven-year old Casia Bartlett says she’s afraid of the pan lest she burns herself but adds, “it’s been a fantastic experience to cook for her dad with the recipe by renowned chef Atul Kochhar.
SAMPLE THIS ... Kenyan expat Anthony Buyu, a crew from a restaurant, calling customers to try free samples of a variety of desserts offered by his restaurant.
SAMPLE THIS ... Kenyan expat Anthony Buyu, a crew from a restaurant, calling customers to try free samples of a variety of desserts offered by his restaurant.
AGE NO BAR ... A woman and a little girl enjoy together and wow the crowds as they test their flexibility while balancing hula hoops at one of the entertainment shows at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on Friday.
AGE NO BAR ... A woman and a little girl enjoy together and wow the crowds as they test their flexibility while balancing hula hoops at one of the entertainment shows at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on Friday.

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