Tasting flavours of Dubai
It’s the perfect time to be a foodie in Dubai; 16 of the city’s best restaurants will descend on the Media City Amphitheatre from 14-16 February 2025 for Taste of Dubai 2025. Some eateries confirmed for the event include Akmal Anuar’s Osteria Funkcoolio and his new concept Harummanis, Miss Lily’s and Indya by Vineet. There’s also plenty of chances to meet and learn from international guest chefs such as Marco Pierre White, Eric Lanlard, Dani García and more.
50 Best MENA restaurants set for January reveal
Love them or hate them, there are a number of rankings showcasing the best restaurants in the city and the region. One of them – Middle East and North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants – is set to reveal its 2025 list on 28 January at an event in Abu Dhabi. The in-person event will also host: #50BestTalks a thought-leadership forum; Flavours of 50 Best, an evening event featuring dishes from some of the world’s leading chefs; a series of ‘50 Best Signature Sessions’, which are collaborative dining events uniting global chefs with regional talent. Anyone can book seats to the Signature Sessions so keep an eye on the official website for further details.
Books, books, books
Mark your calendars for the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, which is taking place at the InterContinental Hotel Festival City, Dubai from 29 January to 3 February, and there are plenty of talks, workshops, dinners and poetry sessions to enjoy. While there are many to pick from, don’t miss taking your kids along to the session where authors of children’s cookbook From Plant to Plate, Darryl Gadzekpo and Ella Phillips, show you how to grow your own ingredients – garden or not! – and create tasty meals.
Design meets food
Culture vultures might know about Sikka Art and Design Festival, which showcases and supports art created by Emirati, UAE and GCC-based artists, but what’s doubly exciting is that its 2025 edition will also focus on the culinary arts through various facets of the festival. Set to be held from 31 January to 9 February, the event will transform Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood to highlight a variety of visual arts, painting, sculpture, photography, design and much more. The festival is also set to feature interactive workshops, musical and cinematic performances, and various talks and panel discussions.