Here’s one for the foodies: Michelin-starred chefs, glorious grub and the dulcet tones of a Motown legend.

What to expect from the three-day dining extravaganza…

Michelin Men

Prepare to learn from the best as Taste Of Dubai welcomes a host of celebrity chefs to Media City. 

Gary Rhodes

Dubai’s resident celebrity chef, Gary Rhodes owns a constellation of Michelin stars, and is considered the (less sweary) ambassador for British cuisine. If you’ve not yet grazed on a plate of Rhodes-cooked fare, meet him at Taste Of Dubai, then hotfoot it to Rhodes W1 and consider yourself part of an exclusive club that also includes his beloved Manchester United team as well as Tom Hanks.

Aldo Zilli

Aldo Zilli may have hung up his apron in 2012, but his fingers have remained in many pies, so to speak. In fact, the master of Italian cuisine might be as well known for his myriad onscreen appearances as he is as a top chef. Zilli was a judge on Celebrity Masterchef, fronted his own primetime TV show, competed on Celebrity X Factor and Celebrity Fit Club – and remains an executive consultant chef to San Carlo Group.

ALSO: Michel Roux Jr, Jenny Morris and baking aficionado Eric Lanyard are all set to make an appearance at Taste Of Dubai.

The food

Taste test

It should go without saying, but you best arrive hungry as a selection of the city’s top restaurants serve up some of their greatest dishes at a fraction of the price. Here’s our a few of our top picks. 

Burger and Lobster

What to try: Mini original lobster roll, mini samurai lobster roll, original burger sliders, hot mama burger sliders.

Spice And Ice

What to try: Frozen yogurt samosa, dragon puff, chili garlic lamb chops, prawn coconut chili. 

Ramusake

What to try: Soft shell crab sliders, tuna sashimi pizza with truffle ponzu, slow cooked brisket in a steam bun, soy cured salmon with wasabi crème and fraiche nashi pear.

Carnival By Tresind

What to try: Beef vindaloo, vada pav service, pullinji, jalebi chaat with yoghurt mousse and potato and chickpea.

Dinner and a show

Motown legend Billy Ocean to perform live at Taste of Dubai 

Dubai is destined for a trip down memory lane when musical heavyweight of the 1980s, Mr Billy Ocean, takes to the stage at Taste Of Dubai on March 9. He may have seen most of his success over three decades ago, but Ocean is still rocking like it’s 1986 (and at the ripe old age of 67, no less). Ocean has sold more than 30 million records in his lifetime, and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down either, having just announced a 2017 tour.

Nostalgia factors aside, Ocean will have everyone from your mum to your kids up and dancing to old favourites Caribbean Queen, When The Going Gets Tough and Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car. We’ll drive with you anywhere, Billy!

Also performing:

4THEMUSIC

This covers band has built up a solid fan base in Dubai, being regulars around town during festival season. This isn’t their first Taste Of Dubai rodeo, either.

The Boxtones

With 200 shows across the region a year, and a new album in the works, expect exciting things from these Dubai regulars.

The Maplejacks

A quartet hailing from the UK and New Zealand, The Maplejacks have been rocking Dubai for almost a decade now. 

USEFUL INFO:

Parking: Parking is limited and organisers recommend taking a taxi or using the metro. There’s also a great offer of 15 per cent off two rides with Careem, going to or from Taste of Dubai.

What your ticket includes: A standard ticket basically gets you entry and access to the chef’s theatre, cooking challenge, children’s zone and live music. A VIP ticket gets you that, and access to the VIP lounge, two beverages and three dishes.

Activities at Taste Of Dubai: Dust off that apron and get into the kitchen with a cooking challenge, or leave it to the experts and watch a demo at the chef’s theatre.

How much should I budget? The average dish is between Dhs15 and Dh30, so it depends how hungry you are!

How many restaurants will be there? Twenty-four. And should you try all of them? Yes. So should your daily budget be Dhs720? Also yes.

Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai Media City, March 9 to 11, 8pm, Dhs75. Tel: (04) 3911196. Metro: Nakheel. tasteofdubaifestival.com.

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