How to get involved with the Dubai Food Festival

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City Times runs through the major culinary events going on across town in the name of deliciousness

By David Light

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Published: Wed 4 Mar 2020, 8:58 AM

Last updated: Sun 8 Mar 2020, 10:57 AM


We're slap bang in the middle of this year's Dubai Food Festival, which means all you gourmands have the prime opportunity to get munching across the city.

Dubai Restaurant Week 
Kicking-off on March 5 and running to March 14, the Dubai Restaurant Week promotions will give you the chance to indulge in gourmet global food at special prices. The 2020 edition features 36 outlets, and exclusive menus at some of the city's best restaurants, including a few run by celebrity chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Vikas Khanna, Akira Back, Greg Malouf and Mathieu Viannay. Five-star two-course lunches are on offer from Dhs75, while three-course dinner experiences start from Dhs150. All Dubai Restaurant Week dining experiences must be booked in advance through Reserve Out via its app and website.
Foodie Experiences 
A recent Dubai Food Festival addition, Foodie Experiences are a curated series of epicurean sessions designed to stimulate all the senses. There are more than 80 opportunities on offer. Take part in a MasterClass, a Chef's Table or an Experiential dining experience. If you love making food, the MasterClass series is for you. Set in many locations, these instructor-led experiences will leave you with a new appreciation for ingredients and give you the chance to try your hand at everything from vegan Vietnamese dishes to dim sum; cake decorating to MasterChef-style cooking challenges. The Foodie Experience Chef's Table series brings you up close and personal with some of the city's top chefs. Indulge in a one-off Japanese Italian fusion night; a unique sustainable tapas experience or a 14-course journey into modernist, molecular Indian cuisine. For a more Experiential occasion, why not try Bedouin desert dining; Emirati dining under the stars atop a traditional coral house in Al Bastakiya. Tickets available on PlatinumList.net.
Home Edition 
Home Edition brings the city's supermarkets and hypermarkets into the excitement. For the first time, if you spend Dhs250 or more at a participating outlet - Lulu Hypermarket, Spinneys, Waitrose, Carrefour and Union Co-op - you will be placed in a weekly raffle to win vouchers valued at Dhs50,000. Winners will be chosen at random and declared in a weekly raffle draw to be held on the March 7 and 14 at the Etisalat Beach Canteen main stage.
Beach Canteen  
Running throughout the festival, the Etisalat Beach Canteen includes a new-for-2020 gaming park, a Beach Game alley, a kid's play zone, and the chance to watch and learn from leading chefs and culinary experts including Chef Vinu Raveendran from Carnival by Tresind and representatives of the International Centre for Culinary Arts (ICCA) Dubai training centre. Also try exciting food concepts at Lacnor Garden.
Dine and Win 
For another chance to win big have a go at the Dine and Win promotion in collaboration with the Dubai Shopping Malls Group featuring 19 participating malls and various other F & B outlets. Upon dining for Dhs50 at any of the participating venues, including outlets at the airport, receive a raffle coupon to win an array of prizes and the grand prize of a GAC sedan. 
Light up the sky
Fireworks will mark each weekend of the event. Check them out at 8.30pm at Dubai Festival City Mall this Friday. On March 13, a display will take place at The Pointe on Palm Jumeirah at 8.30pm, while a closing ceremony marked by fireworks will be held at the Etisalat Beach Canteen on March 14 at 8.30pm.
Hidden Gems 
Dubai Hidden Gems looks to highlight the unsung heroes of our food scene. A shortlist of 40 restaurants, cafes and food outlets has been selected in collaboration with Zomato. This year's list includes global cuisine from the UAE to US, to Japan and Ethiopia. Every outlet on the list has on average, a dining meal for two at no more than Dhs165 - with some feeding two people for as little as Dhs30. Vote for your favourite Hidden Gem from the list at dubaihiddengems.com.
 
david@khaleejtimes.com 


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