Gino D’Acampo, Rachel Allen and Thomas Straker are all coming
If you needed another reason to get excited about Taste of Abu Dhabi, the festival has revealed its star-studded chef line-up, and there are some big names on the menu.
Taking place at Gateway Park North, Yas Island from 13-15 November, the three-day foodie festival will bring together international chefs, local culinary talent, restaurant pop-ups, live entertainment and plenty of hands-on experiences.
Leading the chef line-up are some familiar faces, including Gino D’Acampo, Rachel Allen, Thomas Straker and Jenny Morris, who will be joined by a host of chefs from across the UAE and beyond.
Meet the chefs
The international line-up includes Gino D’Acampo, Rachel Allen, Thomas Straker and Jenny Morris, alongside an impressive roster of guest chefs including Faisal Naser, Amna Alhashmi, Vanessa Bayma, Joseph Nesbitt-Larking, Andrew Dickens, Richard Stratton, Dave Kimmerly, Hunter Burkall, Frederic Casagrande and Annika Panikker.
There will also be a strong showing from chefs taking part through ICCA, including Shamal More, Sergio Freitas, Samuel Momoh, Rene Cerda, Omkar Padwal, Michelle Tredoux, Francisco Araya and Durgesh Dabral.
And it’s not just about watching the chefs do their thing. Visitors can get involved through a packed programme of hands-on cooking workshops, with chefs creating recipes especially for the festival and sharing their tips and techniques.
The workshops are included with your entry ticket and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with registration opening one hour before each session.
Come hungry
The chef announcement is just part of what’s happening at Taste this year.
There will be 16 restaurant pop-ups, giving you the chance to graze your way around some of Abu Dhabi’s favourite spots, with confirmed names including Oak Room, The Director’s Club, 99 | Tanjun, Beetza by Erth Hospitality, Ergon by Erth Hospitality, Almayass, Lento, Paradiso, Desert Lotus, Ting Irie and Pincode by Kunal Kapur.
More restaurants are still to be revealed, so expect plenty more to be added to the food trail.
There’s plenty beyond the food
When you’re not eating, you can catch live performances from The Nomads DXB, Hamdan Al Abri, Jose Ramon and The Band of Brodas, with music and entertainment taking place across the festival.
Families can also get involved, with Little Chefs cooking workshops and a dedicated kids’ zone featuring bouncy slides, a bungee jump, arts and crafts and more.
There’s also an artisan market, games, brand activations and interactive experiences dotted around the festival site.
For those looking to make a full day of it, the VIP experience includes fast-track entry, access to the VIP Lounge, exclusive activities and entertainment, plus three food and three drinks vouchers.
Tickets start from AED80 for general admission, with a AED185 taster package and AED350 VIP package also available. Children under 12 enter free.
13-15 November, Taste of Abu Dhabi, Gateway Park North, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. For further information, visit tasteofabudhabifestival.com
