NEWS NIBBLES

What’s hot and happening in the culinary world, in the UAE and across the Middle East

Empowering local farmers

Food Crowd - part of Al Dahra (the UAE’s multinational leader in agribusiness) - is an online grocery store that supports local farmers and recently launched the ‘Express Delivery’ feature. You can now receive fresh produce, dairy, eggs, meat, seafood, and premium quality products within 60 minutes of ordering, at over 40 destinations across Dubai. Food Crowd’s platform aims to promote “From the Community to the Community” and “Buy Local to Support Local.” Order via the app (Android and IOS) or foodcrowd.com.

A novel trending UK dessert concept has launched in Dubai. Introducing Traybae, a homegrown baked-goods start-up serving traybakes, apt for gifting and snacking. The sharing-style dessert pays homage to the traditional baking method, offering nostalgia with childhoodfavourite recipes. Choose from flavours such as The Jammin Blondie (indulgent jam swirls and white chocolate chunks, topped with jammy biscuits), The Lotulicious Blondie for afternoon tea (filled with soft white chocolate and chunks of Lotus biscuits), The OG Brownie (fudgy, oozing with Belgian milk chocolate), The Cookie Bar featuring Belgian chocolate chips bursting with Mars Bar chunks, The Caramel Crispy comprising Rice Krispies bars laced with a secret caramel mix topped with Belgian and white chocolate swirls, and The Malteser Slice.

Traybae delights can be ordered via Deliveroo, or directly via traybaedxb.com.

SUSTAINABLE STEP

Emirates Flight Catering, in a joint venture with Emirates Crop One, has unveiled the world’s largest hydroponic farm in Dubai, Bustanica. Located near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the 330,000 sq ft facility is geared to produce more than 1 million kilograms of high-quality leafy greens annually, requiring 95% less water than conventional agriculture. At any point in time, the facility grows in excess of 1m plants, which will provide an output of 3,000 kgs per day. Bustanica is driven by powerful technology – machine learning, artificial intelligence and advanced methods – and a highly specialised in-house team that includes agronomy experts, engineers, horticulturists and plant scientists. A continuous production cycle ensures the produce is fresh and clean, and grown without pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals. The next time you fly Emirates, look forward to eating leafy greens, including lettuce, arugula, mixed salad leaves and spinach.

Cheers with Martini 0.0

Martini 0.0 debuts in the Middle East! Using the finest grapes from Northern Italy, combined with well-honed skills and decades of expertise, Martini 0.0 is an all-natural, alcohol-free, sparkling beverage. Available in two variants: Martini Dolce 0.0 (light, sweet, and fruity with hints of apple and pear) and Martini Rosé 0.0 (fresh and fruity with notes of rose, raspberry, and wild strawberry) it’s the perfect addition to mocktails and summer soirées.

GOING DIGITAL

Michelin starred chef Vikas Khanna has collaborated with Akshaya.io, the World’s first ‘Phygital’ platform, to create a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) of his latest work, “Sacred Food of India”. The limited-edition book features recipes of prasad and foods served at various holy places across India. Akshaya.io has created NFTs of the book, enabling Vikas Khanna’s fans and those interested in rare collectables to own the original NFT alongside the physical book. This purchase will authenticate the originality of this limitededition work, and ownership of the asset cannot be duplicated in any form. This is the first-ever collaboration for Chef Vikas Khanna with a Web 3.0 enterprise.

Visit akshaya.io for more information.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Board of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the first edition of the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition (ADIFE) is scheduled to be launched on December 6-8, 2022. Organised by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) the event will witness wide-scale local and international participation by major companies specialising in the food, beverage and hospitality sectors, in addition to experts, specialists, and decision-makers within these industries.

GET INSPIRED AT LUNCH HOUR

Myrra upgrades the conventional business lunch with the launch of the Creativity Lunch concept

Dubai’s Greek beachfront restaurant on The Palm, Myrra, invites creatives and innovators to a lunch-time gastronomy experience designed to foster collaboration, at the newly launched “Creativity Lunch” concept. Solely designed to get creatives “eating out of the box” to find inspiration outside the four walls of an office, the menu showcases highlights from Myrra’s Greek and Spanish roots with the goal of invoking creativity and connections. Diners can find new collaborations or explore more profound connections with expressive artistic entertainment that transport the lunch experience beyond the norms.

Diners have the option to commence their culinary journey with plates like the whole grain bread which contains ample nutrients and fibre, drenched with olive oil to help balance blood sugar levels, or the antioxidant-rich Myrra salad packed with micro and phytonutrients, fibre and folates, that boost your mood and metabolism. Vegetarians and vegans will savour the Roasted cauliflower with tahini dressing, for a dose of amino acids to boost serotonin, while meat lovers can feast on the Kleftiko 48-hours braised lamb shoulder with feta mash and Kalamata olives, packed with iron. The menu also features nutrient-loaded juices for the ultimate connection between food and brain power. The Creativity lunch is not complete without the celebrated Torrija with walnuts, a natural serotonin booster that has been touted as the feel-good cocoa.

The experience is set to break the boundaries of connections by offering sumptuous offerings in an airy, imaginative space, where real conversations and honest brainstorming can thrive. Expect a perfect ambience turning what’s meant to be a lunch break into a lunch breakthrough at our Creativity Lunch.