French chef Alain Ducasse at his restaurant Alain Ducasse at The Morpheus Hotel in Macau last year. AFP
French chef Alain Ducasse at his restaurant Alain Ducasse at The Morpheus Hotel in Macau last year. AFP
French chef Alain Ducasse at his restaurant Alain Ducasse at The Morpheus Hotel in Macau last year. AFP
French chef Alain Ducasse at his restaurant Alain Ducasse at The Morpheus Hotel in Macau last year. AFP

Safer to eat in restaurants than at home claims top French chef Alain Ducasse


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French superstar chef Alain Ducasse has insisted that it is safer to eat in restaurants than at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

With restaurants shuttered by lockdowns across the world, Ducasse claimed that it is far riskier to shop and cook at home.

"It's better to eat in a restaurant that takes all the precautions than at home where you have to go to your little local supermarket where people are bumping into each other, touching the fruit and not everybody is wearing masks," he told AFP of France. In the UAE, it is mandatory to wear masks in supermarkets.

Ducasse is behind Mix, a high-end restaurant on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah. His restaurants have 17 Michelin stars, the most of any chef in the world, and he claimed it made more sanitary sense to eat out.

Restaurants were closed on scientific advice to halt the spread the of the virus and to enforce social distancing.

However, thousands of takeaways in France and elsewhere have remained open, with several top French chefs including Ducasse providing haute cuisine to go.

Ducasse made the safety comments after making the case for a "gradual and responsible" reopening of restaurants in France to President Emmanuel Macron Friday.

Ducasse said that Macron had taken his arguments on board, adding that cafes and restaurants could start reopening "between June 2 and 20" if the death toll from the virus continues to fall.

The chef represented the country's hard-hit hospitality sector in a video meeting with the French leader. The French government said that it would decide when cafes, restaurants and hotels could open at the end of May.

Ducasse's Dubai restaurant:

France is the most visited country in the world, with some one million people employed in its hospitality sector.

Cafes and restaurants are at the heart of French culture and identity, but have been shuttered since the country went into lockdown nearly six weeks ago.

This can only last for a few more weeks

As well as a partial reopening, the hospitality industry are demanding tax and rent breaks to help the hard-pressed sector. The government instead promised to extend an aid scheme to establishments that employed up to 20 people.

"We are going in the right direction," Ducasse told AFP.

He described the lockdown as "catastrophic" for the sector, which is dominated by small family businesses, and said "this can only last for a few more weeks".

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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


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Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster

Global Fungi Facts

• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
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Karnataka Tuskers 110-3

J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16

Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs

K Pollard 45*, S Zadran 2-18

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Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

How being social media savvy can improve your well being

Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.

As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.

Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.

Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.

Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.

However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.

“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.

People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets