Raw Food Gourmet Dinner

Raw Food is gaining popularity. Not to mention that this is perfect for the hot summer season to stay fresh, hydrated and fit health food enthusiasts know about the benefits of eating raw. Many do so from time to time to detox or to stock up the extra dose of vitamins and freshness, some eat raw only for a lifestyle and some are curious to find out how it feels and ….tastes! Have you ever tried raw bread? A raw soup? Raw lasagna? If not and you wish to do so, you can either sign up for one of my raw food classes (for those who like to prepare it at home) or just sit back and book a set menu with me in any of our restaurants in Madinat Jumeirah.
For me as a chef with profound health food background and lifestyle it is always a pleasure to create and serve food that is thoroughly beneficial and delicious for my guests. There are not many restaurants in the world to serve raw food culinary experience I am proud we at Madinat Jumeirah do. And so I prepared with my team last Friday for a lovely group – all experienced raw food enthusiasts (wow) – a pure RAW FOOD DINNER in five courses, served at the romantic Khaymat Al Bahar:

I hope you enjoy the impressions!                           

              
Botanical Garden Harvest
with sprouted Sunflower Seeds

Chilled Green Pea Gazpacho
with Air Dried Back Olive Crackers

Buckwheat Tabouleh (see similar recipe, just with quinoa, here)

Raw Vegetable Lasagna (see recipe here)

….and the sweet finish: Dessert!

If you would like to learn how to prepare raw dishes, drop me a line and sign up to my next Raw Food Class on June 30, 11 am to 2 pm in Magnolia, Al Quasr. The original date was in May but had to be rescheduled  due to the fact I worked for a short time in our beautiful new Jumeirah Hotel in Rome. But now it is happening, promise. And it will be a perfect hot climate treat.
We will prepare interesting things like raw bread, raw nuts cheese, raw cake…..
Looking forward to seeing you there!

Bye Bye Rome – Welcome to Dubai

Bye bye Rome……it was lovely to be there! Here is my last photo before going to the airport.

Already back in Dubai a couple of days, I still owe you the cherries recipe, don’t I?
Apart from just enjoying the very fresh cherries just as they are, delicious!
As we have got now what we call the Hot Dubai Summer (imagine just very very warm temperatures….), refreshments are very much in demand! So I first made a light and cooling dessert, that helps to cope with the weather. It is very easy to make and good to prepare in advance: 

Frozen Yoghurt with Cherries, Peaches and Green Almonds
2 portions
What to Buy
125 ml organic yoghurt
2 tablespoons agave syrup
1 organic orange (you need very little of the grated skin)
8 cherries
1 peach
4 green almonds (optional peeled dry almonds, soaked in water over night)
1 sprig mint leaves  and 1 teaspoon palm sugar for garnish

How to Make It
Wash the orange and grate off some of the skin. Stir it into the yoghurt together with 1 spoon agave syrup. Pour the seasoned yoghurt into 2 portion glasses and keep in the freezer for a minimum of 6 hours. You can leave the glasses in for days, so you can make this dessert in advance and just take it out when you need it. Important: When entirely frozen, the yoghurt glasses need to be transfered 30 minutes before serving into the fridge to defrost slightly. Otherwise the ice is stone hard and not pleasant to eat.
Short before serving peel the peach and cut it into wedges. Cut off wedges of the cherries as well. Open the almonds and release the nuts. Mix the fruits and almonds with the remaining agave syrup. Now dip the frozen yoghurt glasses in hot water for 3 seconds, to remove the parfait from the glasses. This works best with the help of a small knife. Place the parfaits on dessert plates, garnish with the fruits, almonds and mint leaves and sprinkle with some palm sugar.

Enjoy the summer – and expect one more delicious recipe with my Italian cherries soon.

Working in a charming place

 I am still HERE :

Working, and truly enjoying it. Great atmosphere & great people!

 On a morning walk I explored the pittoresque neighbourhood in walking distance. A MUST, knowing I will leave soon. There is not enough time for real sightseeing, but these impressions you can find just around the corner of the Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto.

Lovely, isn’t it? What do you think: Maybe I should not forget to throw a coin into the Trevi fountain to increase my chances to be back one day?

Let’s try!

These  delicious cherries will be in my luggage to Dubai. A new recipe is coming soon!

Benvenuti a Roma

Travelling again! This time it is for work. But you still can be a little bit jealous because I am in beautiful Italy. Rome in spring is magic in particular, and I feel very lucky to work for a couple of days in our company’s new hotel, the Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto.
Very exciting! Sometimes the best things come unexpected.

This place is so elegant, intimate, with Art Deco interior, great location near to the Villa Borghese Park and the Spanish Steps – I love it. Enjoy my first impressions…more to come soon.