Of foodies and goodies

DUBAI - Set in a carnival-like atmosphere and a menu consisting of rich beef steak burgers, shepherd’s pie, cheese cake and unlimited beverages, the annual food festival, Taste of Dubai, according to its visitors is a food and music lovers’ paradise.

With over 25 participating hotels, and food stalls from across the UAE, Taste of Dubai was packed with visitors belonging to all nationalities from across the country on Friday. Pan-Asian and continental cuisine took centre stage at the festival with a few Indian restaurants and a scattered Arab selection.

South African housewife Chantele Peters said: “I have attended a few of the Taste Johannesburg festivals. But I really enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere this place has to offer. You do not have a lot in the Arab cuisine, which is disappointing because I was looking forward to some Arab food.” She also pointed out that it would be helpful if the restaurants pointed out their entire menus at the festival. The festival, which was opened on Thursday, will conclude today. Some of the highlights of the festival include cookery classes conducted by celebrity chefs from across the globe, food and beverages sampling and live music.

A first-time Indian visitor to the festival, Ruth Fernandes, said: “It’s pretty exciting to be here. The ambience of the place is spectacular, and it’s great to see residents from various ethnic backgrounds getting along so well at the festival.”

Another first- time visitor and Turkish national, Goron Mclodin, said: “It’s a great place to familiarise yourself with the restaurants here in Dubai. Next time I want to take my family out to dinner, there will be no confusion because now I know where exactly I want to go”.

Ben Tobbit, Head Chef at Ivy Restaurant, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, said that the response this year has been fantastic. He pointed out that authentic British cuisine has become extremely popular in this part of the world.

Celebrity chef Aarti Sequeira, who was born in Mumbai and raised in the UAE, won the culinary battleground that is The Next Food Network Star competition, winning her own show on the channel, which began airing in the US in 2010. She cooks home-style Indian classics along with American dishes with a continental twist.

She showed the crowd on how to prepare the perfectly round chappatis and Alu Tikki Bennedict. She said “For me it’s very nostalgic being back here. Good food is what the people eat. Sometimes you need to go to the small samosawala’s in Karama and shawerma joints in Deira to know what the people here are eating”.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE