Silvenia Rowe promises an unforgettable iftar

Silvena Rowe is set to bring a touch of glamour to iftar tables this Ramadan.

The British celebrity chef will launch another signature restaurant, Omnia by Silvenia, in Dubai this Ramadan.

Speaking from the Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature, Rowe explains the restaurant will be located in Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai with a focus on gourmet Middle Eastern cuisine using organic products.

“It will be like 1001 culinary nights ” she said.

“It will be alluring and aspirational and a place to celebrate Emirati and Arabic culture.”

Rowe admits opening during Ramadan is a “radical move” but promises a “Ramadan iftar that you never experience before.”

While not giving away what’s on the menu, Rowe says Omnia’s focus on fresh ingredients should go a long way in tackling misconceptions surrounding Middle Eastern cuisine.

“People in the west think Middle Eastern food is boring, brown, full of salt and fat,” she said.

“I am here to show that Arabic food can be just as sexy and alluring as French and Japanese.”

Rowe recently relocated from London to Dubai to personally run the project.

It’s a move, she says, that is rarely done by many of today’s celebrity chefs.

“This is why a lot of these restaurants don’t work,” she said.

“There is no love, attention or ownership. My team is amazing and I am bringing a lot of my chefs who worked in many Michelin starred establishments in the UK. The level will be extremely high.”

Follow Scene and Heard for coverage from the Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature. For festival details go to www.emirateslitfest.com