Dubai, UAE: The Embassy of Italy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) welcomed the year-long partnership announced by Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in the UAE and Eataly to showcase Italian food culture and the “Made In Italy” home-grown products, with a 12-month calendar of masterclasses, educational campaigns, promotions and food tastings in the U.A.E highlighting the authenticity, traditions, and diversity of Italian cuisine. 

The campaign across Dubai – home to two of Eataly’s food halls, in Dubai Mall and Dubai Festival City – runs in parallel with transatlantic campaigns in Monaco, Toronto, New York and Stockholm, with a focus on three main pillars: Eat, Shop and Learn. 

The partnership will mirror the idea that food brings people together and customers will have access to a series of activations aimed at the discovery of authentic Italian cuisine and world-renowned beverages.

Gracing this landmark event was H.E. Nicola Lener, Ambassador of Italy to the United Arab Emirates, who said: “As we continue to witness the increasing success reaffirmed by Eataly, year after year, internationally, we are proud to join forces in promoting Italian culture and gastronomical heritage.” 

The campaign kicked off with a launch event on Jan. 27, 2021 – the day of Eataly’s 14th anniversary – with the Eataly stores in Dubai, NYC, Los Angeles, Toronto, Munich and Stockholm broadcasting live on their respective Instagram channels to celebrate the partnership. During the live shows, the different stores were connected to each other, discussing Italian food and drink excellence, with a focus on durum wheat pasta, extra virgin olive oil, coffee, and chocolates.

Dubai, UAE: Bombay Borough, DIFC’s latest all-day Indian Bar & Eatery invites you to celebrate its 1^st anniversary with the worlds’ most expensive biryani.  

At Bombay Borough, we believe that good food tastes best when shared with good friends. We introduce you to a heavenly experience with our signature creation, The Royal Gold Biryani. Our “Meal of the Royals” is enriched with unique Indian spices and 23 karats edible Gold. Could this be anymore magnificent! The Royal Gold Biryani exclusively priced at AED1,000, holds the title for the world’s most expensive biryani, and is here to take you on an enticing journey of unique flavors and aroma adding up to your extravagant Dubai experience.  

Prepared with passion, a delight to the eyes, the Royal Gold Biryani is Indian cuisine with a difference! 

To start off 2021, pamper yourself luxuriously with our Gold Leaf kababs- The Kashmiri lamb seekh kababs, old Delhi Lamb chops, Rajput chicken kababs, Mughlai koftas, and malai chicken roast served on a bed of saffron-infused biryani. The Royal Gold Biryani is complimented by a wide selection of our exquisite sauces, curries, and raitas. It is the exuberant journey to experience Royalty. This royal meal is served in a Thaal and the Gold Biryani is garnished with 23 karat edible Gold.  

Visit and celebrate the 1^st Anniversary of Bombay Borough, the Royal Gold Biryani and embark on a culinary journey you have never experienced before. 

The Royal Gold Biryani serves 4-6 people and requires 45 minutes preparation time. The Royal Gold Biryani is available to you at an absolute price of DHS 1,000. Bombay Borough is located in Gate Village 3 at Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) just below Capital Club, next to Sotheby’s, opposite Gate 2. You can place your reservation at reservations@bombayborough.ae or by calling on (+971) 43271555 

Reserve your table today and indulge yourself at Bombay Borough, DIFC’s latest Indian Bar & Eatery. 

Find out more and check out BombayBorough on 

Website: www.bombayborough.in 
Facebook: Bombay Borough UAE 
Instagram: @bombayborough_uae  

Dubai, UAE  –  Spend quality time with your friends while relishing the beautiful views of Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai skyline over a Healthy Afternoon Tea at The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel.

Guests can choose from the curated menu of delectable yet guilt-free snacks and desserts featuring Vegan, Keto, and Paleo-Friendly dishes complemented with the hotel’s signature coffee and tea blends. The Vegan menu includes tomato shells filled with guacamole, vegan berry treats and more. Those who are on Keto diet can enjoy coconut-poached pulled chicken in tomato cup, superfood cashew cheesecake, to name a few; while some of the Paleo-friendly options are Atlantic smoked salmon with sundried tomato and cottage cheese on paleo bread, and paleo cupcakes and cookies, among others.  

The Healthy Afternoon Tea also offers a unique selection of coffee and tea blends including charcoal cappuccino, beetroot latte, matcha tea or latte, and rice milk karak chai, and more.

Priced at AED165 / per person from Sunday to Wednesday and AED185/ per person from Thursday to Saturday, The Retreat Palm Dubai’s Healthy Afternoon Tea is available from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Save and savour this offer with your gal pals as the hotel has a 2+1 offer until March 31.

For bookings and more information, visit theretreatpalmdubai.com, call +971(0) 4 524 7777 or send a WhatsApp message to +971(0) 50 263 0765.

T&C: Rates are inclusive of 7% municipality fee, 10% service charge and 5% VAT. Children ages six to 12 will avail 50% discount while kids aged five and below dine for free of charge. A 24-hour advance booking is required.

DUBAI, UAE : Dubai Vegan Days, the family-friendly community dining initiative, is inviting everyone to join them in a warm, friendly lunch event, celebrating the end of Veganuary with some unique pizzas.

The three-course meal, which takes place on Saturday, February 6, is a special opportunity to indulge all your taste buds in dishes, which celebrate the best of fresh Italian ingredients combined with vegan creativity. 

BiCE Ristorante at Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, joined forces with Dubai-based vegan entrepreneur and recipe developer Kamilla Omarzay, to create an astounding array of tasty pizzas prepared with BiCE’s famous house-crafted dough.

Together with BiCE’s Head Chef Davide Gardini, Kamilla has created an exclusive selection of vegan pizzas to marking Veganuary. 

Guests are welcome to savour delicious, authentically crafted 100% vegan pizzas crafted after a great deal of toil in the kitchens at BiCE. Kamilla, Chef Davide and the team spent days trying out new recipes and ingredients, working with different vegan cheeses and sauces, to perfect taste, texture and ensure everyone really enjoys the pizzas.

The menu features a mouth-watering choice of six delicious pizzas, including the ‘Trofulicious’ Pizza – a cream of pumpkin base, with roasted tofu, grilled eggplant and black truffle; the ‘Meat Me There’ Pizza featuring vegan sausage, vegan mozzarella and a cream of asparagus topping and the Cheesy Fondue Pizza with a generous spread of vegan cheese fondue, grandmother’s tomato sauce and a rich spinach cream. 

The Mas-calzone folded Pizza is packed with creamy vegan cheese, artichoke hearts, mushrooms and a broccoli cream. 

BiCE’s Fru’ Fru’ Pizza includes a delightful cream of Jerusalem artichoke artfully topped with roasted pumpkin, black olives, rocket leaves and basil oil and finally, there’s even a dessert pizza – called Basically Nut – featuring a creamy slather of rich, vegan chocolate and hazelnut Nutella spread.

Kamilla says: “I am thrilled to be working with BiCE Ristorante and Chef Davide again. I am honoured to impart my culinary creativity in preparing and introducing the six new pizza recipes at this iconic Italian restaurant. 

“BiCE Ristorante’s pizzas for sure are one of the best in Dubai and we are confident that the BiCE loyalists will enjoy the new addition to the menu. Eating clean doesn’t mean missing out on one of the best things in life. That’s why, through this menu, we are taking everyone’s favourite dish – pizza – and giving it a fresh take by making it 100% vegan.”

Head to the restaurant’s stunning terrace at lunchtime on February 6, and for just AED99, you’ll get a starter, a choice of main course vegan pizza and a delicious coconut-based dessert. For AED115, guests will also be able to enjoy tea, coffee and soft drinks.

Beverage is available, but charged separately. 

First up, diners can indulge in a creative Insalata di quinoa – featuring quinoa, vegetables and a stunning marinated pineapple carpaccio. 

Next, choose your pizza – we recommend choosing one each from the five available, and sharing a slice or three! 

Leave room for a palate-cleansing Assoluto di cocco dessert – a refreshing coconut mousse served with a lemon sorbet and white chocolate crumble 

There are just 40 seats on the BiCE terrace, so book early to avoid disappointment. 

Organiser of Dubai Vegan Days, Ananda Shakespeare says: “We are always thrilled to discover another dining venue is not only paying heed to the desires of the growing number of vegans in Dubai – and vegan tourists, but actively pursuing unique dishes that will thrill anyone and everyone. BiCE has gone the extra mile in joining forces with the wonderful Kamilla in this extraordinary menu that we can’t wait to try.”

Veganism is on the rise, with some half a million people globally pledging to try out veganism in January, as part of the Veganuary movement. Dubai Vegan Days is a fun, friendly food-based concept launched in 2018, offering everyone a chance to try good food, meet open- and like-minded people and perhaps learn more about what it means to be a vegan. 

You can find out more about the Vegan Community day via Facebook, at https://www.facebook.com/DXBvegandays/

Prior booking/reservations is mandatory. Guests are invited to call BiCE Ristorante on 04 318 2319 or email restaurant.JBR@hilton.com to guarantee a table. 

WHAT: VEGAN PIZZA LUNCHEON

WHERE: BiCE Risotrante, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, JBR The Walk 

WHEN: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 12:30pm -3:30pm

COST: AED 99/115 ADULTS, AED 49 KIDS

With only 40 seats available, Dubai Vegan Days’ popular events sell out fast.

Please let the BiCE team know of any allergies or intolerances. 

Did you know?

• Vegans do not suffer from a lack of protein. There is more protein in broccoli than beef. Lentils, spinach and almonds are also protein-packed and contain other great nutrients too. You simply do not need to consume meat to get protein. Other vitamins and minerals that are widely and easily available to vegans include Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin C. 
• Going one year without paper saves 8.5 trees. Going one year without beef saves 3,432 trees. 
• The list of famous and influential vegans is enormous, including: Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Alicia Silverstone, Ellen Degeneres, Joaquin Phoenix, Woody Harrelson and Casey Affleck.
• If everyone became vegan, billions of dollars could be saved in worldwide healthcare annually.  

The term ‘vegan’ was coined in the UK in 1944. A man named Donald Watson invented the term vegan when he co-founded the Vegan Society. At first, he used it to mean “non-dairy vegetarian”, but from 1951 the Society defined it as “the doctrine that [people] should live without exploiting animals”.

DUBAI, UAE:  Hamzh Al Durdangi has been appointed as Executive Pastry Chef of both The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort and Al Wathba, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa.

Chef Hamzh’s culinary career started in his mother’s kitchen where he would spend hours taking in the food, smells and techniques she would use to make delicious meals and his favorite desserts.

“My mother makes the very best siphon and chocolate moist cake, my all-time favorite fruit jams and a lot more. I could stay in the kitchen for hours watching her create beautiful and flavorsome desserts and pastries. As far as I remember this is where it all started for me. She has always been my greatest inspiration to become a better, more detailed and more experimental chef.” says Chef Hamzh.

In fact, Chef Hamzh has a sweet tooth himself, with a soft spot for citrusy desserts such as lemon pies, mille-feuille and choux à la crème. His fondness for his favorite desserts motivated him to pursue his culinary career in desserts and recreate them to near perfection.

After completing his studies in Hospitality Management, he stepped into the world of commercial kitchens and has never looked back for something different. Eventually working his way up the culinary ladder, he developed his skills while his achievements include his expertise in team management, setting the highest standards of quality control and optimizing budgets.

An avid traveller at heart, his career spans across the globe ranging from his hometown in Jordan, to South Africa, the Maldives, Southeast Asia, Middle East and India. While he credits his mom’s cooking for motivating him to pursue a career in the culinary arts, it is working in different locations and along different cultures that he felt truly inspired. Exposing himself to learning the secrets and techniques of each locality while working in a multi-national environment helped him grow – not only as a chef – but also an empathetic team leader.

“My greatest enjoyment is to create desserts that place a smile on people’s faces. What inspires me the most is to know that my very own creations are loved for their tastes and presentation. This is a true recognition for me, that not only makes me happy, but also content to feel that I have contributed to a blissful moment of flavors. I believe this is what cooking is all about.” adds Chef Hamzh. “It is my greatest dream to see my delicacies earn a Michelin star.”

When asked about his greatest masterpiece, he fondly recalls the time he perfected the Sugar Show pieces.

“Working with sugar takes a lot of time and efforts, it requires a lot of skills and experience – this is what motivated me to execute them flawlessly” explains Chef Hamzh. “Making Sugar Show pieces truly is a form of art. Right from forming the sugar mixture, to designing the show piece requires utmost precision and that can only be fueled by pure passion.’

The Sugar Show Pieces look similar to glass pieces except they are created with sugar. It can be done in various forms and abstract designs and is customizable for every occasion.

Chef Hamzh has been a valuable member of The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort culinary team since October 2019 and counts his appointment as executive pastry chef for the two hotels as his biggest achievement so far in his career.