Dubai restaurants, chefs and event organisers are making the most of the cool weather before Ramadan, with a number of culinary events lined up this week. Photo: Alserkal Avenue
Dubai restaurants, chefs and event organisers are making the most of the cool weather before Ramadan, with a number of culinary events lined up this week. Photo: Alserkal Avenue
Dubai restaurants, chefs and event organisers are making the most of the cool weather before Ramadan, with a number of culinary events lined up this week. Photo: Alserkal Avenue
Dubai restaurants, chefs and event organisers are making the most of the cool weather before Ramadan, with a number of culinary events lined up this week. Photo: Alserkal Avenue

What to eat in Dubai this week: a food festival and chef-led dinners to try


Janice Rodrigues
  • English
  • Arabic

This week is abuzz with food festivals, chef-led dinners and new restaurants you can try. Here are the ones we are most excited about.

Top UAE chefs come together for 12-hands dinner

Chefs from Reform, Roberto's, Hilton, Boca and more will be at 24th St at the Dusit Thani Dubai
Chefs from Reform, Roberto's, Hilton, Boca and more will be at 24th St at the Dusit Thani Dubai

Why savour the creations of one chef when you can have those of six? On Saturday, the Best of Dubai dining series by cookbook author Flavel Monteiro will gather half a dozen of the UAE's top chefs for an exclusive dinner at Dusit Thani Dubai's street food restaurant 24th St. On the menu are the signature creations of Yugal Kishor of Reform Social & Grill, Wichit Panyo of Benjarong, Matthijs Stinnissen of Boca, John Buenaventura of Abu Dhabi Hilton Yas Island, Francesco Guarracino of Roberto's and pastry chef Glenn Noel.

The flavour profiles are as varied as their creators, with dishes such as raviolone alla Genovese, smoked chilli and garlic chicken tikka, street-food tacos with beef tongue, grilled Galician octopus, Thai shrimp cakes, and apricots and dulcey.

The menu is priced at Dh299; seats are limited, and bookings can be made by email to dine.dtdu@dusit.com or via WhatsApp on 054 990 8007.

Alserkal Avenue’s What The Food festival is back

Alserkal Avenue's What The Food festival takes place from April 7 to 10
Alserkal Avenue's What The Food festival takes place from April 7 to 10

Dubai foodies have plenty to chew on as Alserkal Avenue's What The Food festival returns for the second time. Taking place until Friday, April 10, the "celebration of the city's gastronomical concepts" features pop-ups and culinary events from 3pm to 10pm.

Two supper clubs are planned. On Thursday, chef Halawa will whip up traditional Palestinian and Jordanian dishes as part of the A Night in Palestine. Meanwhile, on Friday, chef Vikram of The Curry Bureau will design a menu with a modern take on Indian and coastal cuisine, with ingredients such as Omani prawns and beef tenderloin.

Those not looking for a full-blown meal can venture through the lanes of the avenue, trying dishes from Good Vibes Market, Akiba Dori, Organic Souk, Cheese Onboard and more. There will also be workshops, film screenings and gallery tours.

Indulge in a Brazilian-Indian fusion menu at Tresind

As part of Dubai Food Festival’s Foodie Experiences, fine-dining Indian restaurant Tresind will welcome chef Manoella “Manu” Buffara of Manu restaurant in Curitiba, Brazil, for two collaborative dinners.

The Brazilian chef, who was awarded the Miele "One to Watch" award by The World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2018, champions local, organic produce. Alongside the expertise of Tresind's chef Himanshu Saini, you can expect an interesting evening.

The experience costs Dh695 per person for food only. The dinners will feature 10 courses and four small bites, and will take place on Friday and Saturday, in two time slots: 6.30pm and 9.30pm. Reservations can be made by calling 04 308 0440.

Punjab Grill to open in Dubai

Chicken tikka chaat at Punjab Grill
Chicken tikka chaat at Punjab Grill

Famed Indian restaurant Punjab Grill in the Venetian Village at The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, is something of a staple on the fine-dining scene in the capital. Now, the restaurant is set to expand to Dubai, and will open at The Oberoi Dubai, Business Bay, in the second quarter of the year.

Guests can expect a high-end dining space rooted in Indian tradition, with an open kitchen led by executive chef Sandeep Ail. The menu will feature curries, kebabs and classic Indian desserts. This will be the brand's first outpost in Dubai. It also has restaurants in Singapore, Washington and Bangkok.

Cipriani to launch new concept in The Dubai Mall

Famous Italian restaurant Cipriani has launched Cipriani Dolci in The Dubai Mall. Courtesy Cipriani
Famous Italian restaurant Cipriani has launched Cipriani Dolci in The Dubai Mall. Courtesy Cipriani

If you're craving world-famous Italian fare, you'll soon find it in the world's largest mall. Fine-dining restaurant Cipriani will be launching a new concept, Cipriani Dolci, in The Dubai Mall's Fashion Avenue in April. Fans of the 90-year-old Cipriani brand can expect the same warm hospitality, nautical aesthetic and classic dishes, such as baked tagliolini and scampi carpaccio, plus delectable dolci, from torta di cioccolato and vanilla meringue cake to freshly whipped ice cream and lemon tarts.

A stall will serve an assortment of tramezzini, focaccia, bomboloni, cannoli and other traditional Italian baked goods, and there will also be a takeaway services, gift baskets and a hearty breakfast menu. This marks Cipriani's third launch in the region, after successful restaurants on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Instagram favourite Bounty Beets launches second branch

The new Bounty Beets branch features the restaurant's signature pink hue and murals
The new Bounty Beets branch features the restaurant's signature pink hue and murals

The Dubai cafe that made waves with its Instagram-worthy interiors and wholesome healthy dishes has launched a second outpost at Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, close to Dubai International Airport.

The location features all the interior elements Bounty Beets is famous for – from its pink hues to its botanical touches, flamingo mural and even the oft-photographed “Hello Beautiful” wall. On the menu are a range of juices, smoothies, waffles, poke bowls, salads and more, all with “pun-tastic” names.

Another bonus: like its Le Meridien Mina Seyahi branch, this cafe, too, is pet-friendly.

Types of bank fraud

1) Phishing

Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

2) Smishing

The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

3) Vishing

The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

4) SIM swap

Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

5) Identity theft

Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

6) Prize scams

Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

Top 10 in the F1 drivers' standings

1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 202 points

2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 188

3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 169

4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 117

5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 116

6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 67

7. Sergio Perez, Force India 56

8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 45

9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 35

10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 26

Sreesanth's India bowling career

Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40

ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55

T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12

Match info

What: Fifa Club World Cup play-off
Who: Al Ain v Team Wellington
Where: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
When: Wednesday, kick off 7.30pm

Specs

Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now

%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E470hp%2C%20338kW%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20620Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh491%2C500%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The design

The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.

More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.

The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.

The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.

A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.

Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.

Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.

Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.

 From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.

Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019. 

Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo

Transmission: CVT

Power: 170bhp

Torque: 220Nm

Price: Dh98,900

Meydan Racecourse racecard:

6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes Listed (PA) | Dh175,000 1,900m

7.05pm: Maiden for 2-year-old fillies (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m

7.40pm: The Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) Dh265,000 1,600m

8.15pm: Maiden for 2-year-old colts (TB) Dh165,000 1,600m

8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh265,000 2,000m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,200m

10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,600m.

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

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Brief scores:

Everton 2

Walcott 21', Sigurdsson 51'

Tottenham 6

Son 27', 61', Alli 35', Kane 42', 74', Eriksen 48'​​​​​​​

Man of the Match: Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)

The Kites

Romain Gary

Penguin Modern Classics

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FIGHT%20CARD
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New UK refugee system

 

  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
  • Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
  • A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
  • Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
  • Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds