In this charming chef’s tour through Abu Dhabi, Italian chef of one-MICHELIN star restaurant Talea by Antonio Guida, Luigi Stinga takes food content creator, Harry Heal, around the city he now calls home. We follow the pair as they explore the UAE capital and spend the day adventuring around chef Luigi’s favourite local gems.
Upon meeting, chef Luigi and Harry bond instantly over food, so naturally their time together is spent discovering some of the places that foodies would love. Starting off not too far from chef Luigi’s restaurant, they visit humble vegetable farm located in Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace hotel.
“It reminds me of the time I spent with my grandfather, picking fresh vegetables and fruits from him garden in Italy.”
Here, the chef and his team pick out fresh basil, chilies, arugula and more produce they use in Talea’s kitchen. The next stop is the hotel’s bee farm. Suited up for safety of course, they walk through the beehives where fresh honey is extracted every six months and used to serve guests and in some of dishes on Talea’s menu.
Related: First Day We Got Our Stars: Luigi Stinga of Talea by Antonio Guida
Building up an appetite, they continue to one of chef Luigi’s regular spots in Abu Dhabi: Malaysian eatery, Kopitiam by Chandy’s. Here, they order chef Luigi favourites meals he used to eat when living in Kuala Lampur, such as the iconic beef rendang and laksa soup. To end the day on a scenic note, the duo head off to a sand bar, chef Luigi’s little bit of paradise just 15 minutes away from the port at Emirates Palace. There, they enjoy barbequing fresh fish locally sourced from the fish market with the Persian Gulf in the background and Abu Dhabi’s skyline on the foreground.
“I come here to relax from the stress in the kitchen, it helps me unwind and just have some time to myself.”
