Dubai Food Festival 2024: A Gourmand’s Guide
Indulge in the city’s rich culinary landscape with Bazaar Arabia’s curated guide to the Dubai Festival 2024…
Culinary enthusiasts unite as the Dubai Food Festival (DFF) is returning with a gastronomic exploration of luxurious proportions.
Now in its 11th year running, the annual event was launched with the aim of showcasing the city’s creative, dynamic, and innovative food scene with limited-edition menus, guided food tours, cooking masterclasses, and more.
This year, the festival will once again offer curated culinary experiences to delight even the most seasoned palate.
The three-week event, running from 19 April to 12 May 2024, invites attendees to discover unique flavours and immerse themselves in the city’s extraordinary culinary craftsmanship.
Dubai Food Festival 2024: A Gourmand’s Guide
Dubai Restaurant Week
A highlight of the Dubai Food Festival is Dubai Restaurant Week, running from 26 April to 12 May. The 17-day event will see over 50 of Dubai’s most loved fine-dining restaurants offering exquisite dishes at discounted prices. From the traditional Middle Eastern flavours at Al Khaima or contemporary Japanese cuisine in the upscale Roka restaurant, there’s something for everyone to indulge in. Foodies can enjoy a two-course lunch menu for as little as AED125 or a three-course dinner for AED250 per person in the respective venues.
Gault&Millau’s Culinary Innovators Showcase
As first of its kind in the UAE, Gault&Millau’s inaugural Culinary Innovators showcase will bring together 12 of Dubai’s most esteemed chefs for a delectable pop-up from 25 – 27 April 2024. The event will see Gault&Millau host an 11-course, roaming tasting menu, allowing attendees to enjoy one dish from each chef alongside a complimentary beverage.
The chefs in taking part in the showcase are:
• Grégoire Berger, Ossiano
• Himanshu Saini, Trèsind Studio
• Jason Atherton, Row on 45
• Mohamad & Wassim Orfali, Orfali Bros. Bistro
• Saverio Sbaragli, Al Muntaha
• Kelvin Cheung, Jun’s
• Roberto Torre, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
• Takashi Namekata & Hisao Ueda, TakaHisa
• Ruben Guerrero, 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant
• Tom Allen, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
DFF Foodie Experiences
For those who want to do more than just eat, Dubai Food Festival’s Foodie Experiences will allow you to appreciate the art of cuisine through immersive activations and sensory experiences.
Each week, Foodie Experiences will focus on a different theme, offering a diverse exploration into Dubai’s rich culinary landscape:
• Week one (19-26 April) will focus on fine dining experiences
• Week two (27 April – 4 May) is centred around families and kid-friendly activities
• Week three (5-12 May) is aimed at couples and friends
Activities include a superb lineup of masterclasses, innovative four-hands dinners, intimate chefs tables, and collaborative dinners between local and international chefs.
e& Beach Canteen
For those who are craving a laidback atmosphere, popular dining pop-up e& Beach Canteen will be coming to the Dubai Food Festival. Located on Jumeirah Beach, the outdoor carnival will offer an tantalizing line-up of diverse dining concepts, live entertainment and exciting activities to keep the whole family entertained. You can sign-up to their workshops in advance here.
Lead image credits: Photography by Sandra Chidiac. Styling by Imogene Legrand. Model: Maria Mokeeva at Fashion League UAE. Hair & Make-Up: Kasia Domanska. Lighting Assistant: Yasir Ali. Stylist’s Assistant: Christina Leighton.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s December 2023 issue.