Tourism & Hospitality | Tuesday 10 November, 2015 3:39 pm |

More than 15,500 visitors enjoyed top-notch cuisine, show-stopping entertainment, and endless family fun at Yas Island’s du Arena for Taste of Abu Dhabi’s sumptuous return to the capital.

 

Tantalising dishes from 25 of the capital’s finest restaurants and 10 international celebrity chefs topped the menu throughout Abu Dhabi’s biggest and tastiest festival yet, quenching every appetite during a sun-kissed weekend.

 

Legendary reggae sensation The Wailers stirred up an irresistible atmosphere during Thursday evening’s headline performance, treating an ecstatic crowd to timeless hits including Buffalo Soldier, Three Little Birds, and One Love.   

 

Reza Mahammad, Jenny Morris, Siba Mtongana, Eric Lanlard, Valentine Warner, Suzanne Husseini, Nikita Gandhi, Jose Pizarro, and the dynamic duo of Steven Edwards and Joshua Stanzl inspired food lovers with their experience and expertise at the Quooker and Lurpak Cookery School and OSN-Food Network Chef’s Theatre, where visitors were delighted with hands-on tips and tricks for the chefs’ best dishes in 30-minute long master classes.

 

Putting a stamp on the 2015 festival, Food Network star Jenny Morris said: “I have to say - It’s bigger and it’s better. Everybody walking around has got a very happy mouth, and the food has been phenomenal.”

 

Arabian cuisine celebrity chef Suzanne Husseini added: “What I love is the coming together of all nationalities and cultures in one place where we get to break bread together. I love the atmosphere of all the chefs as well – we are one happy family, cooking for one another and for everyone.”

 

Yas Island’s du Arena hosted 25 restaurants including Al Gusto, Al Mrzab Popular Restaurant, Atayeb, Avasa, Barocco, Belgian Beer Café, Blue Grill, BOA, Café Dalsace, Caramel, Carluccios, Dolmabahce, Ristorante Cavallino, Flooka, KOI, Mikado Cafe and Bakery, Nolus, Peppermill, Prego’s, Royal Orchid Restaurant, Safina, ShoCho, Teatro, Villa Toscana and Zambar.

 

As The Wailers conquered the capital’s craving for reggae soul, the Land Rover & ADCB Entertainment Stage also featured stellar acts across the weekend including 4THEMUSIC, The Maplejacks, Leading Lights Productions, and DJ Superfly to keep both foodies and families on their feet. 

 

The festival was bursting with family fun as thousands of visitors and their kids flocked to the Funky Monkeys Kids Zone and the all-new Premier Family Lounge, which featured Arabic treats, an on-site henna artist, and activities including spin the wheel, pizza-making, and face-painting.

 

Chris Fountain, Managing Director of event organisers Turret Media, said: “Together with our venue partners du Arena and Yas Island, we’ve shown for the second consecutive year that Abu Dhabi has a delectable menu of cuisines and entertainment to offer.”

 

“I’m confident that we will continue to cultivate the capital’s thriving culinary scene and bring Taste of Abu Dhabi back with an even bigger splash next year.” 

 

Participants in the 2015 Cookery School enjoyed new enhancements including the Quooker revolutionary instant filtered boiling water tap, which has unparalleled versatility in the kitchen.

 

Jakob Johannsen, Managing Director of Cookery School co-sponsor Quooker UAE, said: “Our participation in this year’s Taste of Abu Dhabi allowed us to create great exposure for Quooker. The turnout was great at the event and we were very pleased with the positive feedback we received from visitors to our stand. Our co-sponsorship of the ‘Cookery School’ was indeed a great opportunity for the community in the Emirate to learn and experience how Quooker can help with easy, fast, and healthy cooking.” 

 

Also supporting the event were Starbucks as the coffee lounge sponsor, Evian and Badoit as the official water partner, Tavola as the kitchenware sponsor, GEANT as the official hypermarket sponsor, Talabat as sponsors of The Wailers, Yas Island as official destination partner, Etihad Airways as VIP Lounge sponsor and Rotana as official hotel partner.