The best of Dubai this week: December 5 to 11
Festive celebrations, celebrity chefs, culinary pop-ups and live music.
Sunday 5 December 2021
Festive Afternoon Tea at Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah
Ignite holiday merriment with a selection of holiday-themed savoury and sweet treats served with the finest teas. Enjoy holiday favourites such as poached lobster blinis, gingerbread cheesecake, as well as mini-mince pies, apple cinnamon Chantilly tartlet and red Morello cherry Christmas ball. Available daily from 1 to 30 December, from 1pm to 4pm. AED 210 per person.
GO: Email dxbpd.restaurants@waldorfastoria.com or call 04 818 2222 for reservations and more information.
Monday 6 December 2021
Celebrate 15 years culinary of culinary excellence with Reif Othman
Chef Reif Othman, who was honoured with a Golden Visa earlier this year, will host a one-off ticketed dinner at Reif Japanese Kushiyaki to celebrate the UAE Golden Jubilee and his 15-year culinary journey. During the evening, Reif will showcase an unconventional Japanese menu featuring 15 of his most iconic dishes, including pita surprise, lobster carpaccio, duck gyoza, and caviar cauliflower, paired with Avantcha teas presented by tea sommelier Marina Rabei. The exclusive 50-set dinner will be held across two seatings at 6.30pm and 9.30pm, priced at AED500 per person, including a welcome mocktail, 15 sharing plates, tea pairing, and a surprise golden gift.
GO: Call 04 2555142 for reservations and more information.
Tuesday 7 December 2021
Dine with Massimo Bottura at Torno Subito
Diners will have the opportunity to experience an authentic Italian feast hosted by the world’s greatest chefs at W Dubai – The Palm this week. Massimo Bottura’s eight-course experience features an incredible selection of traditional Italian dishes, starting with ‘Piadina on the Beach’, served with smoked eel, squacquerone cheese and pickled red cabbage. Other dishes include ‘Capesante Alla Puttanesca’, seared scallops and a basil and roasted tomato broth, ‘Carciofo Alla Romana’, a delicate reconstruction of a slow-cooked artichoke, and ‘Acquapazza!’, a wild codfish dish with fragrant seafood sauces. Diners will also be treated to ‘Risotto Riviera’ and ‘Agnello’, a tender roasted lamb loin, served with pumpkin, potatoes and hazelnut puree. Finally, be sure to save plenty of room for dessert, with ‘3 Cioccolati in Autunno’, a dish of dark, milk, and salted caramel chocolate and ‘Piccola Pasticceria’, mandarin and olive oil sandwich with Sorrento lemon cannoli. Available 7, 8 and 9 December, from 7:30pm to 11:30pm. AED 690 per person.
GO: Email tornosubitodubai@whotels.com or call 04 245 5800 for reservations and more information.
Wednesday 8 December 2021
Tree Decoration at LARTE, Studio One Hotel
Celebrate Christmas with an Italian touch this year with a traditional Italian tree decorating ceremony at LARTE, Studio One Hotel. Keeping with true Italian Christmas tradition, guests who arrive with a Christmas tree decoration item will receive a complimentary glass of bubbly in exchange. Come with a Christmas tree decoration and receive a complimentary glass of bubbly. Wednesday 8 December, from 6pm to 8pm.
GO: Call 800 788346 for reservations and more information.
Thursday 9 December 2021
Cirque de Cuisine: Christmas Edition at Atlantis, The Palm
The annual bash offers revellers a taste of ten world-class restaurants alongside free-flowing beverages, immersive entertainment and exhilarating experiences at every turn. Cirque de Cuisine: Christmas Edition will allow diners to wander from restaurant to restaurant, enjoying signature dishes, live cooking stations, lavish buffets and live entertainment. All signature restaurants are open exclusively for ticket holders, with hundreds of dishes on offer, guests can start with a selection of antipasti from Ronda Locatelli, followed by a main of Nobu’s famous melt-in-the-mouth black cod with a side of avocado tacos, or a quintessentially British Beef Wellington with truffle mash at Bread Street Kitchen. Otherwise, settle into Seafire for succulent flame-grilled steaks and seafood.
GO: Visit www.atlantis.com/dubai or call 04 426 2000 for reservations and more information.
Friday 10 December 2021
See Alicia Keys live at Expo 2020
As Expo 2020 Dubai’s first global music artist to perform in the Infinite Nights series, Alicia Keys will take to the stage at Al Wasl Plaza this Friday. Known for hit tracks such as ‘Fallin,’ ‘No One,’ ‘Girl On Fire,’ and ‘Empire State Of Mind,’ Alicia Keys’ bespoke show at Expo 2020 Dubai celebrates 20 years of outstanding musical success. She will perform a combination of her biggest anthems and ‘unlock’ a selection of new material from her new album.
GO: Visit https://www.expo2020dubai.com for more information.
Saturday 11 December 2021
Discover the South of France at La Plage
Located on the beachfront at Jumeirah Al Qasr, La Plage by French Riviera showcases Mediterranean charm with its elegant food and lively day to night ambience. Serving up a mix of classic and modern French Mediterranean food, the menu transports diners to the picturesque Mediterranean coast for an experience reminiscent of summer days on the French Riviera. Guests can indulge in a selection of cold and hot starters, including Poulpe De Mediterranée, thinly sliced Octopus served with a Black Olive Tapenade and Mashed Potato, Pizzetta Truffe with Crème Fraiche and Oignon Façon Tatin, the signature caramelized onion with Parmesan Cheese Ice Cream. For mains, guests can choose from a mouth-watering selection of dishes with highlights including Rigatoni Truffe, Black Truffle Rigatoni with Parmesan Cream and Beef Jus, Le Poulet Jaune in an Arbois emulsion and Le Filet de Boeuf with creamy Mashed Potatoes and a Bourguignon Sauce.
GO: Visit jumeirah.com/frenchriviera or call 04 432 3232 for reservations and more information.
