Jessica Prealpato spent the first few hours after touching down in Dubai sampling dates. The award-winning chef, who was named The World's Best Pastry Chef 2019 at The World's 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony, works at chef Alain Ducasse's eponymous restaurant in Paris and is one of the brand ambassadors for the France Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Given the country’s rich culinary heritage, its pavilion will offer up a dessert whipped up by Prealpato, who is known for using only fresh, seasonal and locally grown produce. Her penchant for replacing sugar with naturally sweet ingredients is what led her to taste date after date in a bid to find one that could elevate her creation for the world fair.
She talks to The National about her culinary aesthetic and what she hopes to bring to Expo 2020 Dubai.
The Expo dessert
“Using local products is very important to me. For the dessert I’m planning to create for the Expo 2020 in Dubai, I did not want to import a single ingredient from France or anywhere else,” says Prealpato. “Accordingly, I used black ajwa dates from Saudi Arabia to create a syrup, which is poured over other locally available ingredients such as watermelon – roasted with honey and cardamom – semolina and tarragon.”
As I am committed to healthier and environmentally friendly food, I am proud to promote the French 'art de vivre'
The end result is a crunchy explosion of flavours that is at once naturally sweet, light and incredibly refreshing.
Culinary aesthetic
Prealpato is the creator of the desseralite concept (which is also the name of her popular book). Desseralite is a play on chef Ducasse’s naturalite cooking style, which indicates using only locally grown and seasonal ingredients in their most natural form.
In the realm of pastry, this means avoiding heavy cream, sugar and dough whenever possible, and instead using naturally sweet ingredients such as fruit.
Given the UAE’s hot climes, Prealpato says: “I wanted to create something very refreshing, which is why I’ve used watermelon. However, when I landed in Dubai, I discovered the fruit is not as sweet as it is back in France. This is why I have included date syrup.
"I also chose ajwa dates both for their sweetness and sacredness. So while I have frozen the watermelon to make it more crunchy, I chose not to decompress, dehydrate or otherwise alter the natural consistency of the dates, to retain their sacred aspect."
This was also an opportunity for Prealpato to work with spices, which are not part of French cuisine.
Next on her wishlist is to whip up a dessert made from avocados.
Expo 2020 brand ambassador
The France Pavilion is being built on the motto of “France, Lightspeed Inspiration”, and aims to incorporate an environment-friendly architectural style, as well as to showcase talent and companies that play a role in implementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Prealpato’s penchant for natural ingredients is perfectly in keeping with this.
Of the ambassadorship, she says: “This is an opportunity for me to represent the culinary daring that has become an important part of the France’s cultural heritage. As I am committed to healthier and more environmentally friendly food, I am proud to promote the French ‘art de vivre’.
“This will also be a significant opportunity for me to initiate a more holistic conversation on sustainability on an international level – a subject reinforced by the France Pavilion.”
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Ahmed Raza, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Chirag Suri , Zahoor Khan
Episode list:
Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery
Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges
Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic
Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks
Ep5: Travel and tourism
The five pillars of Islam
Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
Results
5pm: Warsan Lake – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Dhaw Al Reef, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Al Quadra Lake – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mrouwah Al Gharbia, Sando Paiva, Abubakar Daud
6pm: Hatta Lake – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Yatroq, George Buckell, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adries de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Listed (PA) Dh180,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Zakher Lake – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Alfareeq, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
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Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
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- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
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- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
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strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
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Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne
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The years Ramadan fell in May
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdd%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EParippu%20%E2%80%93%20moong%20dal%20and%20coconut%20curry%3Cbr%3ESambar%20%E2%80%93%20vegetable-infused%20toor%20dal%20curry%3Cbr%3EAviyal%20%E2%80%93%20mixed%20vegetables%20in%20thick%20coconut%20paste%3Cbr%3EThoran%20%E2%80%93%20beans%20and%20other%20dry%20veggies%20with%20spiced%20coconut%3Cbr%3EKhichdi%20%E2%80%93%20lentil%20and%20rice%20porridge%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOptional%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EKootukari%20%E2%80%93%20stew%20of%20black%20chickpeas%2C%20raw%20banana%2C%20yam%20and%20coconut%20paste%3Cbr%3EOlan%20%E2%80%93%20ash%20gourd%20curry%20with%20coconut%20milk%3Cbr%3EPulissery%20%E2%80%93%20spiced%20buttermilk%20curry%3Cbr%3ERasam%20%E2%80%93%20spice-infused%20soup%20with%20a%20tamarind%20base%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvoid%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EPayasam%20%E2%80%93%20sweet%20vermicelli%20kheer%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Dubai World Cup prize money
Group 1 (Purebred Arabian) 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic - $750,000
Group 2 1,600m(Dirt) Godolphin Mile - $750,000
Group 2 3,200m (Turf) Dubai Gold Cup – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Turf) Al Quoz Sprint – $1,000,000
Group 2 1,900m(Dirt) UAE Derby – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Dirt) Dubai Golden Shaheen – $1,500,000
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Group 1 2,410m (Turf) Dubai Sheema Classic – $5,000,000
Group 1 2,000m (Dirt) Dubai World Cup– $12,000,000
Racecard
6pm: The Pointe - Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.35pm: Palm West Beach - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (T) 1,800m
7.10pm: The View at the Palm - Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.45pm: Nakeel Graduate Stakes - Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
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8.55pm: The Palm Fountain - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
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8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
