From Dunes to Oceans is the theme for this month's Chef's Table dining series, part of the second instalment of Abu Dhabi Culinary Season, an initiative organised by the capital's Department of Culture and Tourism. Running until Thursday, October 15, the food festival brings to the table 10 five-course set menus put together by restaurants around Abu Dhabi.
Each limited-time menu is meant to feature dishes that embrace Khaleeji heritage and regional flavours. So while you’ll still find Indian mezze at Namak by Kunal Kapur and all kinds of carpaccio at Mare Mare and Marco Pierre White, it’s the Arabic dishes that are the true stars of this culinary show. Here are some to sample.
Fishmarket
The InterContinental hotel Abu Dhabi restaurant has been serving its fare for more than 30 years, and its Emirati-inspired menu by chef Muhammad Luthfi supports the local farming community. On offer at this chef's table are bzar-rubbed hammour fillet, made of the quintessential Emirati spice mixture of roasted cumin, peppercorn, fennel, cinnamon, coriander and dried red chilli, and served with green lime and coriander aioli; and luqaimat and date cake, made with khalas dates sourced from a farm in Al Ain, and served with pistachio ice cream and edible rose petals.
Hoi An
Chef Ninh sought inspiration from Bedouin food, which he explains was cooked on an open fire and with a lot of spices owing to the region’s proximity and trade ties with India. These he combines with Vietnamese flavours such as herbs, soy, and chilli, and South East Asian cooking methods, to present Arabic-spiced beef rice paper rolls stuffed with muhammara, spinach leaf and mint. The prune and pistachio mahalabia, meanwhile, packs a powerful flavour punch, with a side of mango sticky rice and lemon sorbet.
Rosemary
The versatile Swiss chef Yvan Marclay of Bab Al Qasr Hotel presents Arabic-inspired soups and desserts on his wide-ranging menu. The former includes shorba laham with lamb and vegetables; lentil-roasted tomato soup with saffron; and chicken harees soup. Desserts are Umm Ali with rosewater cream; and kunafa in cannoli form with dry fruits and pistachio cream.
The must-try dish from this menu, though, is the awamat. The Lebanese doughnut balls are filled with dates, nut paste, blood orange soup and basil ice cream.
Sambusek
The limited-time menu was created by Rosewood Abu Dhabi’s executive Arabic chef Emad Zalloum, who launched the signature Lebanese restaurant in 2012 and oversees the Arabic cuisine across the hotel. Unlike the other participating restaurants, which serve a mix of Indian, Asian and Italian cuisine alongside the Arabic, most of the dishes on Sambusek’s menu are from within the region. However, chef Zalloum particularly recommends kibbe stuffed with minced beef, pine seeds and pomegranate molasses (a vegetarian option comes with fried eggplant and walnuts); and the traditional halawa trabolsyeh.
The Chef’s Table dining series, part of Abu Dhabi Culinary Season, runs until Thursday, October 15. In addition to the ones mentioned above, participating restaurants include Bentley Kitchen, Tori No Su and Tamba. The set menus are priced from Dh350 and reservations can be made by calling the individual restaurants
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
Film: In Syria
Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Diamand Bo Abboud, Mohsen Abbas and Juliette Navis
Verdict: Four stars
