Jumeirah Announces 'Festival of Taste'
DUBAI, UAE, March 21, 2006. Impressive line up of world-renowned celebrity chefs to take part in inaugural food and lifestyle festival in Dubai
Jumeirah, the dynamic and rapidly growing luxury hospitality group and member of Dubai Holding, has announced today that it will host Dubai's first 'Festival of Taste' from 21-26 May 2006 in association with presenting sponsors American Express and Emirates Airline.
The 'Festival of Taste' promises to be a world-class culinary spectacle that will see some of the world's most renowned celebrity chefs travel to Dubai to participate in a series of events during this extraordinary week-long festival. This is the inaugural festival of what will become a bi-annual food and lifestyle event for Jumeirah.
Participating celebrity chefs include Gary Rhodes, Michelin Star Restaurateur and TV Personality, James Martin, TV Personality and Chef, Michel Roux, Three-Star Michelin Chef, Jean Christophe Novelli, TV Personality and Chef, Sam Leong, one of Singapore's most renowned Chefs, Yannick Alleno, Two-Star Michelin Chef from France, Hans Haas, Two-Star Michelin Chef from Germany and Gina Koutropoulos and Ben Sisley from the famous Ping Eatery & Bar in Melbourne, Australia. This is the first time Dubai sees such an impressive line up of celebrity chefs in a single culinary event.
Jumeirah's 'Festival of Taste' 2006 sees most of the Group's hotels in Dubai participating in this tantalizing event and the programme features a series of spectacular events, gourmet nights, brunches, dinners and cooking classes.
Highlights of the various events taking place throughout the week are: the '1001 Nights Meet the Stars Opening Event' at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, which will be a spectacular start of the week-long festival presented by the Executive Chefs of Jumeirah and a series of Gourmet Nights taking place in various Jumeirah restaurants including Villa Beach Restaurant at Jumeirah Beach Hotel with celebrity Chef Jean Christophe Novelli, VU's restaurant at Jumeirah Emirates Towers with celebrity Chef Hans Haas and Napa restaurant at Madinat Jumeirah with celebrity Chef Gary Rhodes.
In addition, guests can participate in 'Cooking Classes with a Star' at The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management with Michel Roux, Jean Christophe Novelli and Gary Rhodes, enjoy a Cigar Dinner, Fashion Tea or Jazz Brunch at Madinat Jumeirah and a Caviar & Diamond Evening at Burj Al Arab.
For the ultimate culinary experience, the 'Festival of Taste' will offer guests the opportunity to experience the 'Ultimate Dinner Party' which promises to provide the finest and highest in dining and lifestyle and a true night to remember. The Ultimate Dinner Party is limited to 4 guests per evening and includes limousine pick up from home for a cocktail reception at Jumeirah Emirates Towers where they will be greeted by all participating celebrity chefs of the festival, helicopter transfer to Burj Al Arab for the first and second course, Rolls Royce transfer to Villa Beach restaurant at Jumeirah Beach Hotel for a hot entr'ee followed by main course in Pisces restaurant and dessert, coffee & tea at Napa restaurant at Madinat Jumeirah and an overnight stay at Burj Al Arab with bubbly breakfast the next morning.
TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH ALL THE PARTICIPATING CHEFS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
For more information or reservations for the Jumeirah 'Festival of Taste', please visit www.jumeirah.com or call +971-4-301-7688. The 'Festival of Taste' Restaurant Reservations Office is open from 1 April 2006.
Note to Editors:
Willi Elsener, Group Director of Restaurants & Bars for Jumeirah said: "The 'Festival of Taste' promises to be one of the world's most creative, colourful and international food and lifestyle festivals that will bring together some of the world's most famous Chefs and the most luxurious and world renowned hotels." He added: "Dubai has earned its reputation for being a world centre of culinary arts and lifestyle and we hope to further enhance this positioning by launching a biannual festival that will tantalize the taste buds of both residents and visitors alike."
"The Festival of Taste will set the precedent for a world-class culinary event in the Middle East and bring together the brand synergy of American Express, Emirates Airline, and Jumeirah. The three companies, which are leading brands in their respective industries in the Middle East, share a long-standing business relationship and are committed to delivering premium lifestyle experiences to its customers. American Express Middle East is delighted to be the Preferred Payment Card for the Festival of Taste - this lifestyle event reinforces our aim to position American Express as the preferred cashless payment method in the region" said Trevor Stokes, President and CEO of American Express Middle East.
Terry Daly, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President, Service Delivery, said: "Emirates is delighted to partner with Jumeirah in bringing this festival to Dubai. We have always aimed to provide our passengers in all classes with an in-flight festival of taste. In our latest venture, we have introduced dishes specially created by Jumeirah's own top chefs for passengers in First and Business Class. Like the great chefs we shall fly to Dubai for this event, we believe that the search for great taste is an ongoing adventure."
Jumeirah Group
Jumeirah properties are regarded as among the most luxurious and innovative in the world and have won numerous international travel and tourism awards. The Dubai based luxury international hospitality group encompasses the world renowned Burj Al Arab, the world's most luxurious hotel, the multi-award winning Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Beach Club Resort and Spa, Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa.
The group's activities are however, not restricted to hotel and resort management. The Jumeirah Group portfolio also includes Wild Wadi, regarded as one of the premier water parks outside of North America and The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, the region's only third level academic institution specializing in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Jumeirah has also expanded internationally and manages the Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London's Belgravia.
Building on this success, Jumeirah Group has become a member of Dubai Holding, a collection of leading Dubai based businesses and projects, in a step that aims to initiate a new phase of growth and development for the group.
As of January 15th 2006, Jumeirah has assumed management of the Essex House, one of New York's most prominent hotels.
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