What not to miss at the inaugural Anantara Gourmet festival

The Anantara Hotel group is hosting its first annual gourmet food festival, flying in renowned guest chefs from three continents to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to serve up their signature fare.

Mike Tafe. Courtesy Anantara Gourmet food festival

The afirst Anantara Gourmet kicks off on Thursday, April 9, offering foodies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi a one-week gastronomical celebration featuring unique dinners with world-renowned guest chefs. The hotel group has spared no cost in its first food festival, bringing in personalities from three continents to share their signature food at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi and Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort & Spa. Here are our top picks for Anantara Gourmet 2015.

Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara in Abu Dhabi

Barbecue – Aussie style

Don’t miss the Big Aussie Barbecue with the award-winning Australian chef Mike Tafe. Tafe, who is the chef and director of Foodstuff Australia, will treat guests to a barbecue masterclass where he’ll share his secrets for the best rubs and relishes. He will grill mini lamb burgers, Angus striploin and veal backstrap on The Pool Deck on Saturday, April 11 from 4pm to 7pm. Dh250, inclusive of selected beverages.

Sugar and spice

Test your sweet skills at Pastry chef Houria Zanoun’s Sweet Masterclass. A regular on Fatafeat TV, Zanoun will give Arabic-speaking guests a step-by-step tutorial on how to prepare her famous chocolate tart with pecans and maple syrup. The class also includes a three-course lunch. Sunday, April 12 from 10am to 2pm in the Mangroves Ballroom, Dh250.

Sweet fashion

Houria Zanoun has also designed a special evening for guests to taste her favourite international and Arabian sweets including basbousa, Arabian nougat, mini éclairs and more. The sweets evening also includes a special viewing of the spring/summer collection from First Choice, an Abu Dhabi couture company. Saturday, April 11 from 7pm to 9pm in the Mangrove Lounge. Dh200, inclusive of sweets, tea and coffee.

A twist on Thai

The Michelin-starred chef Henrik Yde-Andersen, who runs the highly acclaimed Thai restaurant Kiin Kiin in Denmark, will return to Abu Dhabi after his appearance at Gourmet Abu Dhabi 2014. The chef will take over the kitchen at Pachaylen for five nights to serve a four-course tasting menu. Known for his unique twist on traditional Thai food, Yde-Andersen will treat guests to his prawn noodles with tamarind and lemongrass served with edible chopsticks and a snowball salad with squid in a green chilli sauce prepared table-side. He’ll also serve a special floral-inspired dessert composed of 29 ingredients including orchid, rose and tulips. From Saturday, April 11 until Wednesday, April 15, 7pm to 11pm, Dh350, inclusive of beverages.

• Henrik Yde-Andersen will also host a Thai master cookery class where he’ll guide participants through his prawn noodle dish and Flowers of Thailand dessert. Monday, April 13 from 10am to 2pm in the Mangroves Ballroom. Dh250, includes a three-course lunch.

Other notable bites:

Chef SugarHari, a pastry chef with more than 20 years’ experience at five-star hotels across three continents, will host a chocolate masterclass on Tuesday, April 14 from 10am to 1pm in the Mangroves Ballroom, Dh150.

The Michelin-starred chef Igor Macchia is hosting a dinner that includes foie gras, lobster, sea urchin, pumpkin risotto, coffee-marinated lamb and more on Tuesday, April 14 from 7pm to 11pm on The Pool Deck. Dh350, inclusive of beverages.

For reservations for Abu Dhabi events, call 02 656 1000

Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort & Spa

Bangkok in Dubai

Savour a taste of Bo.lan, one of Bangkok’s best restaurants, at a unique Thai dinner. Chefs Bo Duangporn Songisava and Dylan Jones will interact with guests throughout the evening as they serve their signature sharing dishes, including this one: lotus-shoot salad of mixed prawns and northern-style chilli relish with grilled skate, semi-boiled duck eggs and fried chicken. Thursday, April 9 and Saturday, April 11 from 7pm to 11pm in Mekong. Dh275, inclusive of a welcome drink.

Master pastry skills

Score a seat in the renowned pastry chef Claire Clark’s masterclass. Clark will share her pastry skills, tips and secrets while showing guests how to create her personal recipes. Saturday, April 11 from 12pm to 1.30pm in Crescendo’s show ­kitchen. Dh150, includes refreshments.

Clark will also host an afternoon tea where guests can sample three tiers of her signature desserts from red velvet domes with cream-cheese frosting to violet éclairs and edible flowers. Saturday, April 11 from 3pm to 5pm in The Lotus Lounge. Dh150, includes tea and coffee.

Speedy oyster shucking

Don’t miss this feast for the eyes: world oyster shucking champion Xavier Caille can shuck 30 oysters in two minutes and 40 seconds. You have to see it to believe it. He’ll demonstrate his speed, shucking skills while you sample a selection of oysters from around the world. Saturday, April 11 until Tuesday, April 14 from 12.30pm-3pm and 7pm-10pm (no evening event on Sunday) at The Beach House. A la carte pricing.

Dishes from the outback

The Australian Chef Mark Olive will serve an Australian menu as he prepares traditional dishes from the outback. A didgeridoo player will be on hand to entertain. Tuesday, April 14 from 7.30pm-11pm in Bushman’s Restaurant & Bar. Dh275, includes beverages, cheese tasting and barbecue.

Other notable bites:

Italian chef Igor Macchia will host a four-course dinner of Italian and Far Eastern flavours in dishes such as wild rice-stuffed squid with ginger. Sunday, April 12 from 7.30pm-11pm at The Beach House, Dh475, inclusive of four beverages.

The Fork & Cork Friday brunch will offer signature dishes from chefs Xavier Caille, Claire Clark, Mark Olive and Igor Macchia in one sitting. The four chefs will be on-site preparing dishes at live cooking stations. Friday, April 10 from 1pm to 4pm at Crescendo. From Dh310.

For reservations for Dubai events, call 04 567 8888

• Anantara Gourmet runs from Thursday, April 9 until Thursday, April 16. For a complete schedule of events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, visit www.anantara.com/gourmet