Les Gastronomes: 48-hour weekly virtual farmers' market launches in Dubai

The husband and wife behind a UAE gourmet grocery delivery platform have come up with a nifty new idea

Tulameen raspberries can be found at Les Gastronomes new weekly 48-hour virtual farmers' market. Courtesy Les Gastronomes

Find plenty of seasonal fresh fruits, including passion fruit. Courtesy Les Gastronomes

A variety of tomatoes are on sale, including pineapple, black cremian, marmande and beef heart, amongst others. Courtesy Les Gastronomes

A selection of salad leaves are on offer, from lettuce to chicory. Courtesy Les Gastronomes

Stock up on gourmet salad materials each week. Courtesy Les Gastronomes

Find rarer items, such as purple potatoes. Courtesy Les Gastronomes

Guariguettes and wild woodland strawberries are also on the table. Courtesy Les Gastronomes

From chilli to caviar and fresh salmon, all of your foodie needs are catered for. Courtesy Les Gastronomes

Usually, once the summer heat descends in the UAE, outdoor markets head inside to spacious air-conditioned venues, mostly shopping centres or malls. But this year, after we've spent more than a year watching normally physical events head into the digital space, Les Gastronomes has come up with a nifty new idea for the beloved farmers' market.

Husband and wife duo Michel and Stephanie Karkour, the masterminds behind the home-grown gourmet grocery delivery platform, are launching a 48-hour weekly virtual gourmet farmers' market.

Making its debut this weekend, Les Gastronomes farmers market will go live every Thursday morning, with fresh produce and limited-stock items available to purchase via a website, which can only be accessed once a week.

Products, from Italian truffles to French raclette cheese, will be available in limited quantities and on a first-come, first-served basis. They will be delivered to customers' doors that same day or the following day.

Seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood, hormone and GMO-free meats, cheeses, coffee, tea and bread will all be on offer, with a mix of local and international produce, from friseline chicory to Yarra Valley Persian feta cheese and a diverse range of tomatoes, including black cremian and beef heart.

“Over the last five years, we at Les Gastronomes have understood that the true foodies of Dubai are always on the lookout for unique seasonal ingredients and like getting their hands on them as soon as they come in, which is what inspired the idea for a 48-hour virtual market," said chief executive Michel.

"We’re excited to see the response from loyal and new customers and look forward to becoming a convenient weekend gourmet market solution, especially with the constant rise in temperatures in the UAE.”

The idea for Les Gastronomes was born from an appreciation for good meat back in 2016, and the platform has become a digital Aladdin's cave of high-end fresh produce, luxury groceries and pantry items, as well as about 70 varieties of cheese.

Its fine foods selections are personally chosen by the owners and it offers home delivery across all emirates in the UAE with the help of third-party delivery services.