The UAE’s haute cuisine aficionados are in for a treat after British TV chef James Martin confirmed he will be making two appearances in the emirates this year.
Martin was recently unveiled as the ‘for-one-night-only’ Celebrity Dinner host chef for Gourmet Abu Dhabi 2011 and will be returning for the fourth edition of Taste of Dubai in March.
“Dubai is a relatively new place in terms of taste,” Martin told reporters from Arabian Business. “So people are learning to adapt and try new things.” He admitted that the diverse mix of dining options surprised him on his first visit to the city.
And now there have been numerous offers to open a venue in the Middle East. The most recent proposal included a bakery in Dubai. However, Martin is reluctant to simply attach his name for the sake of publicity. “Restaurants have evolved,” he explained. “A lot of thought goes into it.” But he doesn’t rule out any future possibilities.
Despite the economic downturn, celebrity chefs are demonstrating a real entrepreneurial flair. Like his peers Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, Martin has a range of bestselling cookery books and launched an iPad app last November, complete with recipes and HD video guides.
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