BBC Good Food Middle East

Dining out

Dinner review: Hutong, DIFC

Perched on the edge of Dubai’s bustling financial centre, newly opened Hutong brings a taste of sophisticated, Northern Chinese flair to the city. Upon arrival, it’s clear that no expense has been spared in the fit-out of the new restaurant – which hails from the brand’s original Hong Kong-based outlet following its opening in 2003, before expanding to London, New York and Miami in recent years. Spanning the ground and first floors of the Gate 6 building in DIFC, guests are first greeted by glam

Interviews

Behind the scenes at OPA Dubai with chef Timothy Newton

Now in his ninth year in the region, chef Timothy Newton has seen his fair share of changes in Dubai’s ever-evolving F&B industry. We sat down with DEMIND’s executive chef, who now oversees operations at Bagatelle and newly-opened OPA, to learn more about his current role and the restaurant group’s exciting offerings. As executive chef at DEMIND, you’re currently overseeing operations at Bagatelle and OPA. Tell us a bit more about recently-opened OPA… OPA is a Greek inspired restaurant, where

Chef Josefinna Vallve on authentic Argentine cuisine and tips for the perfect steak

BBC Good Food Middle East chats to Chef Josefinna Vallve – Palace Downtown’s resident Chef de Cuisine at its Argentinian eatery, Asado. She tells us more about the menu changes that guests can expect in winter months, and details her top tips for creating the perfect steak. What is the inspiration behind Asado’s menu? The inspiration for the menu comes from my childhood memories in Latin America. The time to eat is one of the most important moments of the day as we all (family or friends) gath

Travel

Review: Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi

Fairmont Bab Al Bahr’s striking exteriors can be spotted from afar when taking the short one-hour drive from Dubai to the UAE capital. The architecture involved in creating this geometric, futuristic-looking building is certainly impressive, and its blue glass and LED lighting modules are said to imitate the flow of water at the nearby Abu Dhabi Creek. Fitting, when the term “Bab Al Bahr” derives from the Arabic phrase meaning “gateway to the sea.”