Eat your way around Abu Dhabi!
The world’s favourite al fresco food, drink and music festival will descend on du Arena, Yas Island from 6th to 8th November as the very first Taste of Abu Dhabi arrives in the capital – with three days of food-filled fun for the whole family.
Showcasing a record-breaking 20 of Abu Dhabi’s top restaurants, Taste of Abu Dhabi will also feature a host of international celebrity chefs, more than 50 exhibitors, and a jam-packed schedule of live entertainment.
The restaurants
The inaugural Taste of Abu Dhabi will feature more restaurants at a debut event than any other Taste festival in the world to date. Guests will be able to enjoy tantalising tasters from 20 of the capital’s finest restaurants as they showcase their most popular dishes.
Angar brings a taste of authentic India to Abu Dhabi, taking traditional Indian flavours and spices and giving them a deliciously modern twist.
A symphony of traditional and contemporary Indian cuisine, Avasa, located in The Collection at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, invites you to experience pure indulgence.
Blue Grill offers fine dining cuisine and is the flagship of Yas Island Rotana. Hearty steaks of Prime Angus Beef are the stars of this restaurant, as well as seafood which will be showcased at Taste of Abu Dhabi.
The Belgian Café concept comes out of the Belgian heritage of great beverages, and the tradition of pairing traditional brews with Belgian cuisine and serving them in an atmosphere that resembles a typical Flemish café.
Caramel Restaurant & Lounge brings luxury and opulence to Abu Dhabi, located at the heart of The Collection within The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort.
Carluccio’s is the acclaimed Italian cafè, restaurant and food shop renowned for bringing authentic and traditional Italian cooking and ingredients to families in a relaxing and friendly environment.
Flooka offers a unique dining experience of the best in Mediterranean seafood with a Lebanese twist.
At Koi Abu Dhabi, imaginative dishes are inspired by traditional Japanese preparations, then deconstructed and infused with modern California accents. Modern palates will truly be inspired by Koi’s Japanese fusion and traditional dishes.
Yas Viceroy’s Noodle Box offers contemporary South East Asian cuisine in a casual yet vibrant surrounding.
Safina offers delicious Mediterranean cuisine where the expert chefs create culinary specialties inspired by the French and Italian Rivieras and the Levant.
Sho Cho Abu Dhabi serves an extensive menu of modern Japanese cuisine, including fabulous appetisers, main courses and the freshest sushi in town.
Turquoiz serves a selection of succulent seafood, light meals and sumptuous snacks, cooked with passion.
Villa Toscana is an artisanal Italian restaurant, serving hand-crafted regional Italian specialties from Tuscany, Umbria, and Emilia-Romagna. Villa Toscana’s design creates the feel of visiting the inviting summer home of an Italian noble.
Ushna is a fine dining and award-winning Indian restaurant located in Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi. The menu encompasses regional Indian classics presented in contemporary style.
Café d’Alsace brings to life the true flavours of the Alsace region, a mesmerising fusion of French, German and Swiss influences.
The Chefs
Taste of Abu Dhabi will showcase a star-studded line-up of celebrity, international and local chefs, with more exciting announcements still to come.
Bader Najeeb Al Awadhi
18 year-old Emirati baking sensation Bader Najeeb Al Awadhi has hosted two of his own shows on Abu Dhabi TV Al Emarat and is set to wow crowds with live cooking at Taste of Abu Dhabi.
Reza Mahammed
In addition to writing two popular cookbooks, Reza Mahammed is the star of Food Network’s ‘Spice Prince of India’ and ‘Reza’s African Kitchen’.
Maurice Maffeo
Heading up Carluccio’s team across the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, Maurice Maffeo lives and breathes Italian food. Delicious flavours, hearty portions and an unmatched enthusiasm make his food really stand out.
Albert Raven
Albert Raven will be bringing a variety of Flemish flavours to Taste of Abu Dhabi. So whether you are a fan of mussels and steak or stew and bitterballen, make sure you check out Albert’s cooking.
Joshn Stanzl
Joshn Stanzl has worked his way around some of the best Michelin and AA restaurants in the UK. Recently he has partnered up with Steven Edwards to create etch – a unique dining experience brand where customers are taken on an interactive dining journey.
Jonathan Phang
Jonathan Phang is the mastermind behind Food Network’s ‘Jonathan Phang’s Caribbean Cookbook’ and Travel Channel’s ‘Jonathan Phang’s Gourmet Trains’.
Raghu Pillai
As executive chef of Rotana’s two Yas properties, Raghu Pillai is known for adding contemporary twists to classic favourites – make sure you don’t miss out on his dishes at this year’s event.
Steven Edwards
Steven Edwards was recently crowned the winner of ‘MasterChef: The Professionals’ in 2013 and is Head Chef of The Camellia Restaurant at South Lodge Hotel, UK.
Stefano Viola
Stefano Viola joined The St. Regis Abu Dhabi as Chef de Cuisine for Villa Toscana. In 2000, Stefano reopened the Ristorante Re di Macchia, Montalcino, Italy, which was awarded a Michelin star.
Sandeep Ail
Sandeep Ail is the Head Chef at Ushna. He aims to reintroduce Indian classics with modern sensibilities while retaining their essence.
Jun Tanaka
Celebrity chef Jun Tanaka has worked in eight Michelin starred London restaurants, as well as presenting and appearing in numerous programmes across British and UK television.
Eric Lanlard
French born Eric Lanlard is an award-winning Master Patissier and international baking star. He is author of five books, founder of ‘Cake Boy’ cookery school, and has presented four prime time television series.
Jenny Morris
Jenny Morris, also known as The Giggling Gourmet, is a celebrity chef and radio personality from South Africa with four cookbooks. She opened Cook’s Playground in 1997, operating it as a cooking school and catering company.
Sang Lee
Saadiyat’s Koi restaurant has made a real name for itself, delivering the tastiest contemporary Japanese food in town. The man behind that success is Head Chef Sang Lee, who will be serving tasty treats including tuna tartare, vegetable maki, creamy rock shrimp and grilled sea bass.
Peeush Chawla
Peeush Chawla joined Saadiyat Beach Club as head chef earlier this year and will be dishing up a host of Mediterranean treats at Taste of Abu Dhabi including sautéed prawns in black garlic butter, oven roasted baby chicken with celery and mushrooms and mini wagyu beef burgers.
Ibrahim Osserain
Heading up Flooka’s ambitious team of chefs, Ibrahim Osserain learned the art of cooking seafood from his grandmother as a young child in Beirut. Today his vibrant and expressive cooking is guaranteed to leave guests wanting more.
Entertainment for all
Once you are full to the brim of tasty treats why not head down to the entertainment stage. With an exciting line-up of bands, musicians and DJs across the three days of the festival, here’s a taster of what you can expect:
4THEMUSIC
With talents honed in South Africa, 4THEMUSIC has been rocking crowds across Dubai since 2006. Famous for their versatile music and engaging stage presence, the band are one to watch at this year’s event.
Crystal
Having toured with the likes of Daniel Bedingfield and the Sugarbabes, Crystal’s silky vocals took her all over the world before settling in Dubai in 2004. Expect an eclectic mix of songs from this soulful singer.
Randy
Currently resident at a number of Dubai hotspots including Rock Bottom, Carters and Fibber Magees, Randy’s skills on the guitar, bass, keyboard, harmonica and saxophone will keep the crowds rocking long into the night!
Krystle and Randy
Following years of playing together in trios and larger bands, Randy and Krystle decided to combine their musical talents in 2012 to form a powerful musical duo featuring fun, energy and a wide ranging playlist that has been wowing crowds ever since!
Diarmuid O’Driscoll
Full to the brim of Irish charm, Diarmuid has been touring the world since the age of 14. With everything from Leadbelly to the Lumineers on his playlist, expect to see classics performed with a Celtic twist at this year’s festival.
VOX Outdoor cinema
Settle down and enjoy a film with your food at Taste of Abu Dhabi’s VOX Outdoor cinema. Showing a range of classic and new films, VOX will also have an extra special stand at this year’s festival, showcasing the latest 4DX technology set to launch in the UAE later this year.
Get involved!
On top of food, drink and entertainment galore, the inaugural Taste of Abu Dhabi festival will also give visitors plenty of opportunities to get involved at this year’s event.
Chef’s Theatre
Experience a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the biggest names in the culinary world as Eric Lanlard, Jun Tanaka, Steven Edwards, Reza Mahammed and Jonathan Phang host demos, culinary challenges, tutorials and Q&A sessions in the Chef’s Theatre.
Masterclasses
Want to get hands-on at this year’s Taste of Abu Dhabi? Well then the masterclass sessions are perfect for you!
Get your apron on and get involved, as an expert team of chef’s guide you through the step-by-step process to creating a culinary masterpiece, perfect for impressing friends and family!
Kid’s Zone
The Kid’s Zone at Taste of Abu Dhabi is jam packed with fun activities to keep the young ones occupied.
Brought to you by Funky Monkeys, the Kid’s Zone activities include: electric train, bungee swing, bouncy slide, trampolines, arts and crafts, cake decorating, pizza making, a princess spa zone and a confectionary counter!
Family Zone
Soak up that festival fever in the alcohol-free Family Zone at Taste of Abu Dhabi. Designed for families, this enclosed tent is the ideal place to relax and sit back with your family at the event.
SPG VIP lounge
Looking for an extra special way to experience the capital’s ultimate al-fresco food, drink and entertainment festival? Well then check out the SPG VIP lounge at Taste of Abu Dhabi.
With VIP tickets available from just AED 149.50 (Early Bird – buy two tickets for AED 299) the package includes:
- Fast-track entry into the event, meaning you will skip the queues and be the first to taste all the delicious food on offer!
- Unlimited access to the VIP lounge, perfect for a break after a day of tasting, shopping and dancing!
- Complimentary drinks and food! Each VIP guest will be able to enjoy three house beverages from the exclusive VIP lounge bar and three of their favourite dishes from any of the twenty participating restaurants!
- VIP guests will also receive a complimentary event guide and access to all theatre sessions, tastings, demonstrations, cooking classes and the al fresco marketplace.
Street Theatre Festival
Taste of Abu Dhabi will host the capital’s first ever Street Theatre Festival.
The festival will feature some of the UAE’s best street artists who will amaze the audience with various performances including mime, juggling, unicycling, musical theatre and dancing across the three days.
Taste at a glance
What is Taste of Abu Dhabi?
Taste of Abu Dhabi is set to be the capital’s favourite food, drink and music festival for years to come!
The festival will be a food-lover’s fantasy, jam-packed with 20 exclusive fine-dining restaurants, world class chefs, an incredible line-up of music, tantalising fresh features and plenty of exhibitors.
Taste of Abu Dhabi will bring together not just restaurants, food and drink suppliers, but a line-up of innovative and interactive programmes dedicated to cooking and eating.
When and where?
du Arena, Yas Island, 6th to 8th November, 2014. The festival will run from 4pm to 11pm on Thursday 6th November, 12pm to 11pm Friday 7th November and from 12pm to 10pm on Saturday 8th November.
How do I buy a ticket?
Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.ae
What does my ticket include?
Standard tickets:
- Entry into the event
- Access to all of the festival features – Chefs Theatre, Cookery School, Kid’s Zone and more
- Entry into the ‘Ultimate Dining Experience’ raffle draw
VIP tickets:
- Entry into the event
- Access to all of the festival features – Chefs Theatre, Cookery School, Kid’s Zone and more
- Entry into the ‘Ultimate Dining Experience’ raffle draw
- Access to the VIP Lounge
- 3 beverages from the VIP Lounge Bar (grape, hops or soft drinks)
- 3 food vouchers which can be used at any of the participating restaurants
*It is recommended that visitors bring spending money to sample dishes from the participating restaurants. Dishes cost between AED 15 and AED 30 each.
Does everyone accept CASH?
Yes, all restaurants, exhibitors and bars accept cash.
Do I need to pre-book for a session at the Cookery School?
No, this feature operates on a first come, first served basis. All sessions are free. Registration opens around 30 minutes prior to the session start time.
Do children require a ticket?
Under 12s are free, however proof of identification may be required.
Are there any age limits?
No, everyone and anyone is welcome to attend.
Are there car parking facilities?
Yes, the du Arena has plenty of parking.
Can I leave the festival site and come back in?
Yes, just ask the security to stamp your ticket for re-entry.
Will there be ATM machines on site?
Yes.
For more information about ticket prices visit: www.tasteabudhabi.com
