Member of The Guild of Food Writers
Member of The Guild of Food Writers

Fancy dinner in Dubai cooked by chefs from Michelin starred restaurants?

Thomas Bühner's smoked carpaccio of watermelon

Thomas Bühner’s smoked carpaccio of watermelon – pretty as a picture

Dubai; How many of us can stake claim to indulging in a multi-course dinner cooked by celebrity chefs from five Michelin starred restaurants? My guess is not many…well FooDiva Friends in the UAE come April 3rd you will, if you want to that is. Thanks to the folks at Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach, seven international chefs will convene for the now-global Stars, Food & Art gala event (remember my pre-Christmas Viennese experience?) making it the largest gathering of chefs from Michelin star restaurants ever in the Emirates.

The event, which combines art and gastronomic excellence, was created in 2007 at Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam in partnership with Dutch chef and author Lise Goeman Borgesius-Timmer. Since then Lise in partnership with Sofitel has hosted this gala event in Marseille, Lyon, Munich and most recently Vienna. So who exactly is descending on Dubai and whose signature dishes will you savour?

Three-star Michelin chef Thomas Bühner

Three-star Michelin chef Thomas Bühner

Thomas Bühner who scooped his third Michelin star for La Vie restaurant in Germany in December will serve…I should disclose this dish has been released in advance exclusively for you FooDiva Friends…a smoked carpaccio of watermelon with parmesan cream, pine seeds, balsamic vinegar and wild herbs along with a sorbet of potato foam and pumpkin ice cream.

Thomas Bühner's sorbet of potato foam and pumpkin ice cream

Thomas Bühner’s sorbet of potato foam and pumpkin ice cream

A similar style of dish to his Viennese plate of marinated mackerel fillets with a dollop of black sesame ice cream and a drizzle of passion fruit. If that was anything to go by, I can’t wait.

Another star of the night is Claire Clark, the pastry chef from three-star The French Laundry in California (still on my wish list!) Here’s the impressive roll-call:

 

Claire Clark,*** The French Laundry (California, USA)
Thomas Bühner,*** La Vie (Osnabrück, Germany)
Giovanni D’Amato,** Il Rigoletto (Reggiolo, Italy)
Christophe Aribert,** Les Terrasses (Uriage les Bains, France)
Bernard Bach,** Le Puits Saint Jacques (Pujaudran, France)
Joe Barza, Chase (Beirut, Lebanon)
Cyrus Todiwala, Spice Namaste (London, UK)

In addition, the host, another Thomas [Pendarovski], Executive Chef of Sofitel Dubai will cook a course of duck three ways with five-spice, foie gras and confit, served with a beetroot balsamic sorbet, cumin carrots and dusted with hazelnut. All eight courses will be paired with wines presented by Brit sommelier and quite the character, Jason Turner, who regaled us in Vienna with many a wine story.

Thomas Buhner's three-star Michelin dish from Vienna

Thomas Buhner’s three-star Michelin dish from Vienna

Now heads up, this event doesn’t come cheap – eight courses paired with wines for AED 2,500 per person (or AED 22,000 for a table of ten) – complete with Laurent Perrier champagne, canapes and Czech Mezzo-soprano Edita Adlerova bringing a touch of opera. So clearly a special occasion for those who really prioritise fabulous food, wine and the whole dining experience. What I can say though if the spectacular Vienna event is anything to go by, it shall be money worth spent.

The eight-course Stars, Food & Art dinner on Tuesday 3rd April, 2012 will take place on the rooftop terrace of Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach. T: +971 4 4484851. E: H6146-FB2@sofitel.com 

So FooDiva Friends, does this event tickle your palate? Have you dined in any of the seven chefs restaurants?

A bientôt!

FooDiva. x

  • Posted under
    Dubai, Foodie Happenings, Gala dinner, Hotels, Licensed, Restaurants

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11 Responses to “Fancy dinner in Dubai cooked by chefs from Michelin starred restaurants?”

  1. Drina C @ Eaternal Zest March 19, 2012 at 9:57 am

    Hey Samantha,
    The link “Stars, Food & Art dinner” doesnt work (FYI)

    but i googled it. Oh dear I wish I could afford that! How lovely is that!!! I do want to go… will contemplate going for another couple days and decide then.

    • FooDiva March 19, 2012 at 10:06 am

      Oops thanks for pointing that out – works now 🙂 And here it is as well.http://www.starsfoodart.com/2011/dubai/index_dubai_eng.php

      I realise it’s expensive, but it’s one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunities to experience so many Michelin chefs all in one place and on our doorstep.

  2. Sally - My Custard Pie March 19, 2012 at 11:55 am

    Sadly this clashes with my food photo workshop dinner. What an amazing experience though.

    • FooDiva March 19, 2012 at 1:13 pm

      I know very sad indeed, and one of the reasons I can’t make your workshop 🙁

  3. dave reeder March 19, 2012 at 5:58 pm

    See you there! I know how much work Chef Thomas has put into the preparation for this. If people can’t afford the evening, then do add the Sofitel to your dining out lists – the every day food is well worth a visit…

    • FooDiva March 20, 2012 at 7:42 am

      Especially the French cheese and wine soiree on Wednesday evenings :).

  4. DNCW March 19, 2012 at 11:25 pm

    OMG, am sooooo jealous! Would have loved to have been there and am sure the hundreds of dirhams will be worth every morcel. That watermelon carpaccio looks like smthg out of Noma.

    Will be thinking of you from puglia, italy where we will be dining at 1-star (sadly, not 12), il poeta contadino http://www.ilpoetacontadino.it/. not usually our type of resto as it is rather classical but food is apparently great. Still, i wish i could fly out to dubai.

    Is this event visiting brussels anytime soon?
    D
    Xxx

    • FooDiva March 20, 2012 at 7:44 am

      Classic is good D – I shall convert you someday :). I am not sure if Sofitel has a hotel in Brussels to stage this event. Please take note Sofitel, open a hotel there just for this event and you will be booked out thanks to D and her foodie contingent. x

      • DNCW March 20, 2012 at 11:08 pm

        They do and its very trendy. Love their cocktails but would love them a whole lot more if they did this here. Will check out the site dave posted.

        • Admirer March 21, 2012 at 11:49 am

          D
          There are a lot of exciting dining experiences in Brussels e.g Dinner in the Tram, Dinner in the Sky plus the Brusselicious Festival in September with the best Belgian Chefs participating.

    • dave reeder March 20, 2012 at 7:58 am

      watch for upcoming events here:
      http://www.starsfoodart.com/2011/

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