Jumeirah Festival Of Taste promises to tantalise Dubai’s tastebuds

Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, today announced further details of its world-class culinary and lifestyle event, Jumeirah Festival of Taste, taking place in Dubai next month.

Featuring some of the world’s most renowned celebrity chefs, Jumeirah is hosting the event from 9-13 November, in association with founding partner American Express and regional partners Evian, SieMatic and Time Out Dubai.

Dubai residents will have a unique opportunity to interact with and enjoy top quality cuisine created by Ainsley Harriott, Kerry Heffernan, James Martin, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Michel Roux, Cyrus Todiwala and Brian Turner at a multitude of culinary events in Jumeirah’s prestigious hotels and restaurants.

The 2008 event will kick off with the ‘All in Good Taste’ grandiose opening event on Sunday 9 November at Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, featuring all seven celebrity chefs preparing signature dishes at live cooking stations.

Three events will take place on Monday 10 November, including an exclusive day-time boat trip event, ‘Bon Voyage et Bon Appetit’, with Jean-Christophe Novelli, Brian Turner, Michel Roux and Cyrus Todiwala cooking gourmet delights for guests aboard four yachts.

Later that evening, James Martin will host ‘Rhythm and Basil’, an evening of live music, dancing and delicious food at Jambase, Madinat Jumeirah, while Kerry Heffernan, one of New York’s finest chefs, will treat guests to American cuisine at ‘Haute Heffernan’ at the Rib Room, Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

James Martin will host the ‘Perfect to a Tea’ on Tuesday 11 November at the Burj Al Arab, where guests will be treated to a delightful traditional English afternoon tea in the world’s most luxurious hotel.

On 11 November, Ainsley Harriott will host ‘Appetisingly Ainsley’, a live cooking show at The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management. This fun and interactive event will offer a fantastic opportunity for food enthusiasts to get up close to the experts. Meanwhile, Michel Roux will prepare an exquisite five course banquet at the ‘Michelin Magic’ event at Vu’s, Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

A lavish formal dinner will be offered at the ‘Gourmet Gala’ event in the Burj Al Arab on Wednesday 12 November, featuring all seven celebrity chefs and Ainsley Harriott as the Master of Ceremony. The closing event, ‘Culinary Conclusions’ will take place at Jumeirah’s Bab al Shams Desert Resort & Spa with live entertainment, food and drinks.

Brian Turner, one of the most highly regarded chefs in the UK, said, "I am really looking forward to be working in a city where gastronomic boundaries are being pushed all the time and in such an exciting environment. To be working alongside international chefs and the Jumeirah team will be an experience that will never be forgotten."

Marco Nijhof, Senior Vice President Middle East, Africa and South Asia at Jumeirah, said, "The Jumeirah Festival of Taste, supported by founding sponsor American Express and regional partners Evian, SieMatic and Time Out Dubai, is committed to bringing this diverse group of internationally recognised chefs to Dubai and encouraging the local community to participate in this culinary celebration and join in the fun."

"American Express, with its rich tradition in providing exceptional fine dining opportunities and premium lifestyle experiences, is proud to be the Founding Sponsor and Preferred Payment Partner of the Festival of Taste 2008 for the second consecutive time," said Peter Fawn, Senior Director – Establishment Services Group for American Express Middle East and North Africa.

American Express Cardmembers can sample the most exquisite culinary feasts at the Jumeirah Festival of Taste and enjoy exclusive offers and privileges by using their American Express Card at the event or through the Membership Rewards programme. "Our long standing partnership with Jumeirah stems from our shared commitment in providing our customers with unique luxury experiences and exceeding their expectations," continued Fawn.

Sherif Saleh, Evian Regional Marketing Manager, Middle East & Indian Ocean, said, "The Jumeirah Festival of Taste is a celebration of a beautiful array of flavours prepared by some of the finest chefs in the world, and with the finest food, Evian comes as the natural companion. Evian is the choice of the best hotels and restaurants around the world and we are delighted to be part of this event since it started two years ago."

Rania Lahori, Marketing Director of Palmon Group, exclusive distributors of SieMatic in the UAE said, "World-class chefs demand the highest quality kitchens with which to perform their art. We are excited to sponsor an event that is one of a kind and believe this to be a great association between two leading luxury brands in their respective industries."

Zoe Cooper-Clark, Publisher of Time Out Dubai, said, "Time Out Dubai is proud to be the official media sponsor for the Jumeirah Festival of Taste. It is a good opportunity for the people of Dubai to experience food from some of the world's best celebrity chefs in a first class environment."

Tickets for ‘Appetisingly Ainsley’ at The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management and ‘Gourmet Gala’ at the Burj Al Arab are available on www.festivaloftaste.com or by calling +971 4 301 7781. Reservations for all other events can also be made by visiting www.festivaloftaste.com  or calling the dedicated Jumeirah Festival of Taste phone number.

7:30pm 9 November All in Good Taste Al Qasr All Chefs

12noon 10 November Bon Voyage et Bon Appetit Jumeirah Beach Hotel Marina Jean-Christophe Novelli Brian Turner Cyrus Todiwala Michel Roux

7:30pm 10 November Rhythm & Basil Jambase Madinat Jumeirah James Martin

7 :30pm 10 November Haute Heffernan Rib Room, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Kerry Heffernan

2:00pm & 4:30pm 11 November Perfect to a Tea Sahn Eddar Burj Al Arab James Martin

7:00pm 11 November Appetisingly Ainsley Emirates Academy Auditorium Ainsley Harriott

7:30pm 11 November Michelin Magic Vu’s, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Michel Roux

7:00pm 12 November Gourmet Gala Burj Al Arab All Chefs

7:30pm 13 November Culinary Conclusions Bab Al Shams All Chefs

Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts are regarded as among the most luxurious and innovative in the world and have won numerous international travel and tourism awards. The Dubai-based luxury international hotel management group encompasses the world renowned Burj Al Arab, the world’s most luxurious hotel, the multi-award winning Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai, the Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London and the Jumeirah Essex House in New York.

The Group’s activities are, however, not restricted to hotel and resort management. The Jumeirah Group portfolio also includes Jumeirah Living, the Group’s luxury brand of serviced residences offering effortless living in luxurious surroundings; global spa brand Talise Wellness; The Taste Department, the company’s dedicated restaurant division; Wild Wadi water park; The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, the region’s only fully accredited third-level academic institution delivering specialised degree programmes in hospitality management; and Jumeirah Retail, with its 15 stores and dedicated luxury online store www.jumeirahcollection.com.

Building on this success, Jumeirah Group became a member of Dubai Holding in 2004, a collection of leading Dubai based businesses and projects, initiating a new phase of growth and development for the group.

Jumeirah has extensive expansion plans to grow its portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts into key gateway or letterhead cities and aspirational resort destinations worldwide. Currently, the Group has several luxury five-star properties under development in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Thailand, China, Argentina, Spain, United Kingdom and the US Virgin Islands. In early 2009, the Group is eagerly anticipating the grand opening of Jumeirah HanTang Xintiandi in Shanghai, Jumeirah’s first hotel in the Asia Pacific region. Visit us at: www.jumeirah.com  

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network Services Company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travellers Cheques, travel, financial planning, business services, insurance and international banking.

AMEX (Middle East) B.S.C. (c) - AEME established its presence in the Middle East in 1959 and set up its first office in Bahrain in 1979. In 1992, American Express became a joint venture company owned by Mawarid Investment Limited and American Express.

Operating in 18 markets in the Middle East and North Africa region, AEME issues dollar currency Credit and Charge Cards: The Centurion® Card, The Platinum Card®, Gold, Personal (Green) as well as Company and Corporate Cards. Since 2001, with the introduction of its first local currency Credit Card in the United Arab Emirates, AEME has been introducing a range of local currency Credit Cards across the region.

American Express Cards are accepted at millions of locations in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

Please visit www.americanexpress.com.bh  for more details.

Bottled since 1826, Evian Natural Mineral Water is the world’s No.1 brand of premium natural mineral water. Untouched by man, perfected by nature, every drop of Evian takes over 15 years to filter through mineral rich glacial sands in the pristine French Alps.

Bottled at the source in a state of the art facility, Evian comes from the Cachat Spring located on the Southern shore of Lake Geneva, in the town of Evian-les-Bains. Being purely nature made, Evian provides a uniquely balanced mineral composition and subtle flavor making it the perfect water for the whole family.

Evian is a brand of the Danone Group, a leader in the food industry and number one by volume in the world for packaged water and dairy products. Internationally renowned as a symbol of health, Evian is the first choice for many of the world’s elite, who like to treat themselves to the very best. From athletes to models to movie stars, Evian is celebrated for its purity and fresh-tasting goodness.

Today, more than 150 years after its discovery, Evian produces more than five million bottles of mineral water each day; all of which can be found across five continents, in over 130 countries worldwide.

Award winning SieMatic aims to reinvent the kitchen as the hub of the modern home; to be not only a functional environment but also a place where family and friends spend time and relax. Using a minimalist design approach and contrasting textures in their fine quality materials, a SieMatic kitchen is at the cutting edge of design.

Innovations such as handleless push-button drawers that not only give a sleek look but are also a pleasure to use, and a utility conduit that sits behind the countertop hiding all the usual accessories integral to a working kitchen are just a couple of ideas that have helped SieMatic to win the ‘red dot: best of the best’ title in this year’s awards. In addition, four further design details won the ‘red dot: product design 2008’ category.

SieMatic’s minimalist designs are likely to appeal to a wide audience with the contrast of the clean stark metallic elements against the natural warmth given by solid woods such as oak and sucupira.

The pièce de résistance of the newly unveiled S1 kitchen range has to be the SmartBoard, which controls all of the electronics and many other integrated functions of a truly modern kitchen including ambient lighting and a sophisticated sound system.

Time Out Dubai is the city’s only intelligent guide to what is happening each week. Launched in 2001, it was the first listings magazine in the region to cover all aspects of cultural and consumer life in Dubai. Now the city’s most recognized and respected magazine, Time Out Dubai is the only weekly entertainment guide that matters.

Time Out Dubai is the city’s benchmark for credible, objective editorial. Each week, Time Out Dubai reviews the city’s best restaurants and bars, gives the most useful travel tips and destination ideas, highlights the best in local TV & film, and previews the greatest gigs in town.

- Lindsay Johnston, Danielle Fanning, Total Communications Dubai - also photo