The region’s inaugural MICHELIN Guide Food Festival, taking place in Louvre Abu Dhabi Park, is a matter of weeks away and there are so many exciting experiences that fine-dining enthusiasts won’t want to miss.
Hardcore foodies will not be disappointed with our lineup of activities led by chefs from both local and international MICHELIN-recognised restaurants from around the world. Tailored for those who really want to delve deeper into the world of the MICHELIN Guide, visitors are invited to discover the art of global flavours and get front row seats at the table of world-class chefs.
Beyond the 16 gastronomic show blocks offering exclusively curated menus, visitors can take part in two unique experiences, helmed by chefs from internationally renowned MICHELIN-starred restaurants.
MICHELIN Stars Table
Meet world class MICHELIN-starred restaurant chefs in an intimate setting, as they showcase their expert cooking skills with a curated menu and served for guests at an exclusive chef’s table. As part of a three-series lineup, local and international chefs will be paired by cuisine including Asian, European, and contemporary.Buy your tickets here (tickets are limited)!
Ticket holders can book their spot in advance for a lunch or dinner experience over the course of the three days. The ticket will also include entry to the Food Festival. Each chef’s table will be hosted at MICHELIN-selected, Fouquet’s, within the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi.
EUROPEAN SERIES
On Thursday, delve into a diverse range of European flavours for an indulgent dinner unlike any other. Join chef Heidi Bjerkan of one MICHELIN Star and MICHELIN Green Star restaurant, Credo, for a showcase of Scandinavian cuisine, and head chef Luigi Stinga from Abu Dhabi’s one MICHELIN Star Talea by Antonio Guida, who will be offering a unique twist on traditional Italian cuisine. Additionally, the team behind MICHELIN-selected French restaurant, Fouquet’s, Balveer Balkissoon and Hugo Sipp, will add their very own unique touch to the evening's menu.
ASIAN SERIES
Friday's chef table will showcase an Asian dinner experience presented by Singaporean chef Jimmy Lim, known for continuously pushing the boundaries at his three MICHELIN Stars, JL Studio. He is joined by chef Lee Kok Hua who creates magic daily at the one MICHELIN Star, Hakkasan, in Abu Dhabi. To complete this one-of-a-kind dinner experience, celebrated chef Supaksorn Jongsiri of two MICHELIN Stars restaurant, Sorn, will be serving his twist on Southern Thai cuisine.
CONTEMPORARY SERIES
For a scrumptious lunch on Sunday, chef Thinus van der Westhuizen from one MICHELIN Star 99 Sushi Bar in Abu Dhabi and chef Richard Lee of California’s two MICHELIN Stars, Saison, will present a specially curated menu of contemporary creations to conclude the three-day chef’s series.
MASTERCLASSES
Throughout the weekend, the MICHELIN Guide is offering guests the chance to get a close look into the world of celebrated MICHELIN-starred restaurant chefs and inspire guests to level up their own cooking skills as the chef’s teach everything from sourcing the right ingredients to how best to set up your kitchen and how to create unforgettable and unique dishes.From sweet, to sour to savoury, there will be six masterclasses – all focused on a specific flavour, and elevated with a unique spin by each chef.
Register for the free sessions here (seats are limited)!
UMAMI
Culinary mastermind of one MICHELIN Star, 99 Sushi Bar, chef Thinus van der Westhuizen will explore umami flavours, a combination of sweet, sour, and bitter notes. Chef Thinus will show guests how to prepare dishes in his signature cooking style, which centres around ingredients presented in their simplest and purest form that are full of flavour.(Image Credit: brebca/iStock)
SWEET
Who could better guide guests through the world of sugary flavours than renowned pastry chef and Passion Dessert winner, Pierre Chirac, of the two MICHELIN Stars Parisian restaurant, La Scène. The talented chef has carved a name for himself thanks to his innovative cooked desserts with distinct tasting notes.(Image Credit: GMVozd/iStock)
SOUR
Experience one MICHELIN Star Hakkasan’s Lee Kok Hua making the most out of sourness. The acclaimed executive chef brings over 30 years of experience across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and was the driving force behind the restaurant’s one MICHELIN star distinction. Chef Lee’s philosophy is entirely guest-focused, making this master class surely one to remember.(Image Credit: y_dragon/iStock)
BITTER
Singaporean chef Akmal Anuar of Abu Dhabi’s Bib Gourmand, Otoro, will artfully introduce his guests to the world of bitter flavours in his master class. Growing up in a family of hawkers, he discovered his love for authentic and unpretentious fare at a young age. Chef Akmal’s cuisine is based on the simple philosophy that simple, great and exquisite food is made with fresh produce.(Image Credit: Oksana Shyriaieva/iStock)
SAVOURY
Celebrated Italian chef Luigi Stinga will showcase savoury dishes. Hailing from the coastal town of Nerano on the Amalfi Coast, the talented chef is known to serve Italian cuisine with a unique and modern twist. His extraordinary talent has earned him two awards in the MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2023 – the Young Chef Award and one MICHELIN Star for Abu Dhabi restaurant Talea by Antonio Guida.(Image Credit: Edalin/iStock)
SPICY
Self-taught chef of two MICHELIN Stars Hong Kong restaurant, Bo Innovation, Alvin Leung, also known as the “Demon Chef,” will put his personal touch on spicy cuisine. The British-born and Tornoto-raised chef is known for his innovative cooking style of “X-treme Chinese,” where he deconstructs Chinese cuisine to its bare essence. Guests are set to embark on an exhilarating culinary journey unlike any other.(Image Credit: Dawid Jozwiak/iStock)
