STREET EATS DINE IN THE AL FRESCO MY DUBAI MARKETS Innovative DESERT Memorable Five of Australia’s Savouring food with Dinner among meals with a best chefs share their spices at the flair the dunes view Dubai foodie hot-spots souk LT_Dubai Cover 2 cs6.indd 1 18/03/2016 10:01 AM FLAVOURS OF DUBAI Editor’s Letter east your eyes on this Flavours of Dubai special Luxury Travel mini-magazine, produced on be- half of Dubai Tourism. A guide to Fthe diverse, rich and broad array of culinary highlights in the Emirate of Dubai, we’ve covered everything to excite your sense of taste. With some 200-plus nationalities now calling Dubai home, the eclectic food scene here makes this destination a gastronomic must-do for all foodies. Dubai hosts some impressive food events and festivals too each year including the Dubai Food Festival each February and March; and the Taste of Dubai event in March. Five of Australia’s top chefs, including Shannon Bennett, George Calombaris, Manu Feildel, Matt Moran and Gary Mehigan attended the 2016 Dubai Food Festival – and here we share with you their top food picks and gourmet standouts from their time spent exploring Dubai. In this guide, you’ll see that the best food to be savoured in Dubai comes from not only the fine-dining restaurants tended by some of the world's most highly regarded chefs; but also from the colourful spice, fish and vegeta- ble markets; the casual though refined beach clubs; the Bedouin camps and exotic dune-din- ing experiences in the desert; to the funky food trucks and independently-owned cafés where Dubai’s hipsters contribute to the city’s own thriving coffee culture. To really peel back the layers on traditional Emirati cuisine, foodies can also adventure around town with a number of curated culinary tours, sampling Dubai’s melting pot of flavours. Food enthusiasts will find flavours to inspire in Dubai’s numerous culinary temptations. Enjoy. KATRINA HOLDEN EDITOR Chor Muang (purple flower chicken dumplings) at Pai Thai restaurant, Madinat Jumeirah Fresh food from one of Dubai's traditional vendors www.luxurytravelmag.com.au 1 p01_eds Letter_Ivan VersionCs6.indd 1 18/03/2016 10:00 AM p01_eds Letter_Ivan VersionCs6.indd 1 18/03/2016 10:00 AM Contents 04 Dispatches 30 Local heroes The hottest luxury hotel and The homegrown foodie restaurant openings. destinations making waves in the Emirate. 06 Fine dining Dubai's dazzling array of five-star, 34 Sugar and spice international cuisine. The colourful and aromatic souks and spice, fish and vegetable 12 Chef's guide to Dubai markets. Featuring chef George Calombaris. 36 Chef's guide to Dubai 14 Dining in the desert Featuring chef Shannon Bennett. The must-do Dubai experience of feasting among the dunes. 38 Culinary tours Festival and food tours to get the 16 Food with a view The best al fresco dining options to taste buds flowing. take in Dubai's magical skyline. 40 Delicious decadence 20 Chef's guide to Dubai Indulge at everything from lavish Featuring chef Gary Mehigan. lunches to leisurely beach clubs. 22 Supper clubs 44 Chef's guide to Dubai Best dining, dancing and Featuring chef Matt Moran. entertainment around town. 46 Restaurants on 24 Chef's guide to Dubai wheels Featuring chef Manu Feildel. Funky food trucks to excite. 26 Coffee culture 48 Know before you go From traditional Arabic coffee General tips about currency, haunts to hipster hubs. weather and getting around Dubai. EDITOR PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY KATRINA HOLDEN MAGNESIUM MEDIA ABN 86 066 598 427 EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Level 2, 68 Moncur Street, BELINDA CRAIGIE Woollahra NSW 2025 Australia Ph: +61 2 9302 0255 DESIGNERS BLAIR PAGAN A Luxury Travel magazine LOUISE SUMMERTON special project published by Magnesium Media PRODUCTION MANAGER MADELEINE STRATTON EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES KATRINA HOLDEN PUBLISHER [email protected] ADAM DAVY [email protected] COVER IMAGE: MANAGING DIRECTOR Courtesy of Platinum Heritage GARY ALLEN Luxury Tours and Safaris. DIRECTOR SCOTT VENTURELLI DIRECTOR ROBIN VENTURELLI CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SUSAN BORHAM Hakkasan2 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers www.luxurytravelmag.com.au www.luxurytravelmag.com.au 3 p02-03_LTD_Contents V2 Ivan_CS6.indd 2 18/03/2016 10:03 AM p02-03_LTD_Contents V2 Ivan_CS6.indd 3 18/03/2016 10:03 AM DISPATCHES DISPATCHES FRENCH CUISINE THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF DUBAI'S LUXURY HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS. A NEW EXPERIENCE OF AN OLD CLASSIC ITALIAN CUISINE n Dubai’s first-ever inte- LA DOLCE VITA IN DUBAI grated urban-resort, the riginating in Florence, Italy, The Artisan I newly opened St. Regis Ho- by Enoteca Pinchiorri has arrived in tel, is the Brasserie Quartier, O Dubai. With the aim to introduce La a French-themed restaurant Dolce Vita (the sweet life) to Dubai, the restaurant offers traditional recipes with an with a modern twist. The experimental twist. Managing partner of menu is compiled of diverse The Artisan, Firas Fawaz, has focused on dishes from different regions bringing the authentic flavours and style of Italy to Dubai with crockery, cutlery, fresh- around France, including produce and decorations all Italian-made, hand-cut steak tartare, baked along with a home-grown regional wine escargot, grilled octopus, selection.The kitchen is overseen by head chef Luca Tresoldi who has worked at the grilled veal paillard, and its Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence, a Relais & signature raspberry croissant Châteaux restaurant, for the past five years. filled with raspberry purée. theartisan.ae stregisdubai.com NEW OPENING RENOWNED CHEF DUO MOVES INTO DUBAI he second phase of Citywalk, an outdoor shopping and dining destination in Dubai, has been revealed, with T 30 new shops and restaurants. Among the new open- ings are restaurants by the Galvin Brothers, Jeff and Chris Galvin, a duo of London chefs highly regarded for their Demoiselle Cafe in Harrods. They are bringing the concept of this cafe to Dubai as an unlicensed bakery and patis- serie. Additionally, a Galvin Brother’s licensed restaurant and lounge with a bar and club will be located on the top floor within a hotel in Citywalk. citywalk.ae FOOD AND MYSTERY READING BETWEEN THE MENU LINES NEW BURJ CLUB he Burj Al Arab hotel is launching a new luxury addition ithin the Palazzo Versace Hotel, FOOD AND ikki Beach, already in a number of international luxury ENTERTAINMENT BEACH CHIC in Dubai, The Burj North Deck in Jumeirah. Along with its Enigma is introducing an entirely global hotels, has now opened on the beachfront of W new dining concept, called the Untold BEACH CLUB ON THE NORTH T 32 beach cabanas and 400 sun loungers, there will be nine Story, which tells a narrative over the N Dubai. The Nikki Beach Club concept is known for its DECK world class restaurants, including Al Muntaha, a Gascon-inspired course of one year using four chefs and LIFESTYLE music, fashion, art and dining experiences. The club cuisine cuisine with head chef, Pascal Aussignac of Michelin-starred Club four entirely different menus. The chefs are includes delicacies from a number of its locations around the drawn from the some of the world’s top Gascon. The development is being created in Finland and shipped restaurants and each of their cuisines are world. With its waterfront views of the Persian Gulf, guests to Dubai. It will incorporate state-of-the-art marine technology inspired by memories and experienced by can relax by the oversized pool and swim-up bar; plus enjoy and design. The private luxury deck will jut out 100 metres into diners through their multiple senses. food from its restaurants and bars including Cafe Nikki Guests can pre-book their seats but menus the Arabian Gulf. It's due to open in the second quarter of 2016. are kept confidential until diners are in the Dubai, Satine Restaurant & Lounge, Key West or Soul Lobby. jumeirah.com restaurant. palazzoversace.ae nikkistyle.com 4 www.luxurytravelmag.com.au www.luxurytravelmag.com.au 5 p4-5_Dispatches Cs6.indd 4 20/03/16 1:26 PM p4-5_Dispatches Cs6.indd 5 18/03/2016 10:12 AM Dinner setting at STAY by Yannick Alléno at the One&Only The Palm FLAVOURS OF DUBAI FINE DINING Dubai’s gastronomic best DUBAI AND ITS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED CHEFS DISH UP A DAZZLING ARRAY OF WORLD-CLASS CUISINE. 6 www.luxurytravelmag.com.au Marina Social Smoked7 Lobster p8-11_LTD_fine dining v2.indd 6 18/03/2016 10:17 AM p8-11_LTD_fine dining v2.indd 7 18/03/2016 10:17 AM Tuna Tataki at Zuma Hakkasan Junoon Lamb rack at Social by Heinz Beck ome to over 200 nationali- Michelin-starred British chef Jason ties, Dubai’s cultural diver- Atherton, meanwhile, has made his sity is reflected in its fine Dubai debut with Marina Social at TOP 5 FOOD HOTELS dining scene – from exqui- InterContinental Dubai Marina. Serving a Atlantis, The Palm Hsite Peruvian and flawless French to con- British-Mediterranean menu of tapas-style The iconic hotel has 23 restaurants temporary Japanese and inventive Indian. dishes in relaxed yet stylish surrounds, it from some of the world’s best chefs, including Nobu Matsuhisa, Giorgio And with world-renowned chefs flocking has a top wine list too with over 1000 bins. Locatelli and Gordon Ramsay. to open new restaurants in the city, visiting Another chef to embrace a less formal style gourmands are in for treat. of fine dining is three Michelin-starred Grosvenor House Dubai One of the most exciting new arrivals chef Heinz Beck; the Mediterranean dishes This glitzy hotel boasts a handful of fine dining gems including original is Enigma at the Palazzo Versace Dubai.