FOOD

CREATE CHOCOLATE DELIGHTS IN BELGIUM

AFTER A HOLIDAY WITH A TWIST?
FOLLOW YOUR TASTEBUDS TO A
RANGE OF UNUSUAL OPTIONS.
BY // GEORGINA WILSON-POWELL
The Kempinski Hotel Dukes’ Palace in Bruges effortlessly
sums up European elegance and aristocratic architecture
and is the perfect luxury base for a city break in one of
Belgium’s most exciting cities. The five star hotel is a fifteenth
century castle, once home to the Duke of Burgundy, which
has been renovated so that every room includes original
features, whilst six suites are historically listed.
Whilst you’re in town taking in the beautiful art galleries
and museums, why not learn something else about
Belgian culture – their innate love of and talent for creating
sumptuous dishes, from mouth watering, rich chocolates
and truffles to fresh shrimps from Zeebrugge and reputedly,
the best turbot in the world.
For select small groups of people (ten at the most), the
hotel will open up its professional kitchen to guests every
afternoon for high level cooking lessons with the hotel’s chef.
Under his watchful eye you’ll learn about the history behind
some of Belgium’s most famous dishes – ‘col vert’ duck,
traditional lace cookies and of course the chocolates!
The hotel’s restaurant, Manuscript, has been attracting
awards since it opened last year and the classes include a
three course meal and canapés, after all the hard work is
done in the kitchen.
A two hour lesson is on offer daily and can be tailored
to suit particular preferences. It can also be expanded to
include gastronomic etiquette lessons for the discerning
diner.
AED1,235 per person for cooking lesson and a 3-course
meal. Accomodation available separately.
WWW.KEMPINSKI-BRUGES.COM

Left to right: One of the culinary

treats served up at the Kempinski
Hotel Dukes' Palace, which is also
pictured.

BAKE LIKE A BEDOUIN IN JORDAN...

Below: The city of Nabataean,
Jordan and right, traditional
fattoush.

Only a short hop from the UAE is the ancient city of
Petra in Jordan. Carved into the red rock faces, this
ancient Nabataean city was built around 100 BC,
but is still considered one of the ‘modern’ seven
wonders of the world and is beautifully preserved.
Petra is a jaw dropping destination no matter what
you intend to do once you’ve arrived. Even more so
if you decide to stay a few days and learn how to
cook traditional Middle Eastern fare such as baba
ghanoush, fattoush and sambousek b’jibn.
Whilst you’ll arrive in Jordan’s capital, Amman,
you’ll soon head to Petra via Mt Nebo, which looks
over the Dead Sea, and roll your sleeves up that
very evening to get stuck into learning how to
make the delicacies at Petra Kitchen. The cooking
schedule that is both relaxing and stimulating –
full of history, culture, conversation and of course,
eating! Day six is a special culinary lesson outdoor
at Neolithic Baidha where you learn how to make
the traditional Bedouin dish, zarb, in a sealed clay
oven.
Accommodation is in the beautiful Taybet
Zamann, a restored eighteenth century Bedouin
village, set round courtyards, a swimming pool
and hamman. No trip would be complete to
Jordan without a salty float in the Dead
Sea, the lowest point on the Earth’s
surface, with a night at the five
star Movenpick hotel before
returning to Amman the

Whilst some holidaymakers crave simple R&R on their vacations,

others love an opportunity to explore and discover the heart
and soul of a country, and what better way to do so than through its cuisine. Culinary
school is run by local women who will teach you
old family recipes, passed down for generations.
For the next three days you’ll spend part of the
next day. All in all, a week
that will delight all the
senses.
holidays offer a wonderful insight into a country’s heritage and social environment, day exploring Petra and nearby crusader forts and AED7,302 per person
through the ingredients that are grown and used, to the cooking and eating of the shopping at local markets for ingredients and then per week (excluding
dishes, you are treated to a truly unique and enjoyable experience. You may even settle down in the evenings to learn how to make meals and beverages.)
discover a previously unknown flair for cooking… We have travelled around the typical Jordanian dishes including honey drenched WWW.HOLIDAYONTHEMENU.
globe to find some of the most tantalising culinary vacations. desserts and melt in your mouth kebabs. It’s a COM

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FOOD
LEARN HOW TO MAKE CHEESE
IN IMPRESSIVE ITALY
You can imagine it now, the rolling green
hills, blue sky, olive groves and the
rustic red rooves of Italian villas, ready
and waiting for you to come and sample
the delights of real Italian cooking and if
that wasn’t enough, learn how to make
the delicious Pecorino cheese – a local
delicacy from the village of Sextanitio,
set in Italy’s Abuzzo mountain region.
An artisan village, local cheese
maker Paola Panone will teach you the
processes behind turning sheep’s milk
into cheese, using methods developed
a hundred years ago. Known originally
as an area that was important for black
wool, the local cheese was orginally
developed as a by product but it is now
famous in its own right. Although the
wool trade has dried up, local villagers
still keep to customs such as driving
the sheep up to new pastures through
the village once a year.
This four night break in Sextantio
From top, clockwise: Visitors to
Italy can learn the techniques
for cooking both bread and
cheese, while staying in rustic-
looking lodgings. Rolling hills
offer a stunning backdrop for
culinary adventures.
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includes a two hour cheese making
lesson, a four hour bread baking
lesson, using ancient techniques and
a sixteenth century oven and of course
plenty of tasting time! Also included
is your accommodation in a beautiful
Italian villa and dinner every night in
local restaurants sampling traditional
Italian cuisine. There is also plenty of
time for al fresco picnics and to explore
the stunning local area or visit the
Museum of Abuzzo which preserves
the old way of life of the region. And you
get to take home some of your bread
and half a kilo of aged and deliciously
seasoned Pecorino cheese.
The lessons can be attended by up
to 20 people at a time but the villa and
experience can be booked privately if so
desired.
AED3,699 per person including B&B
for two nights, one lunch and two dinners.
BREAD AND HALF A KILO OF
WWW.BLACKTOMATO.CO.UK
SEASONED PECORINO CHEESE.
SATISFY YOUR HUNGER IN SCOTLAND...
The islands off the coast of Scotland are
a perfect refreshing change from living
in the Middle East. Mountains and lochs,
green rolling pastures, jagged rocks
and the bracing fresh air is enough to
make anyone’s stomach rumble.
Set on the Isle of Skye is Kinloch
Lodge, home to Lord and Lady Godfrey
Macdonald. It’s accessible by boat or
by bridge and is truly a magical place
where you can relax amongst history,
highland hospitality and of course plenty
of good food. Lady Claire Macdonald is
an esteemed cookery writer and she
opens her home kitchen for select
groups of guests to learn how to cook
her best known dishes. There’s nothing
sterile about this culinary treat, it’s a
homely cocoon of cookery wonder.
TAKE HOME SOME OF YOUR Spend the mornings with Lady
Macdonald rustling up all sorts of
courses, from apricot roulade with
AGED AND DELICIOUSLY lemon cream to the traditional Scottish
dish, smoked haddock kedgeree. Take
your time to devour your best efforts
over a long lunch before walking it all
off and taking in the wild and rugged
scenery in the afternoons.
“I like to ensure my tuition sessions
are balanced with lots of time to relax
in Kinloch’s magical setting and explore
Skye’s wildly romantic beauty,” says Lady
Macdonald. Adding: “I think the main
appeal of residential cooking courses
is that whether guests are complete
novices or kitchen-competent, they
manage to unwind, enjoy themselves
and learn a variety of skills and time
saving tips that they can take home with
them and use in every day life”
The lodge has been home to the
Macdonald Clan for hundreds of
generations and each bedroom is
FOOD
decorated with family portraits, antiques
and heirlooms. There are seven en-suite
bedrooms, a grand dining room and a
selection of stately drawing rooms from
which to admire the views over Loch Na
Dal.
Both the lodge and the classes
can be booked privately if you want the
ultimate private hideaway, with a chef
and housekeeping staff on call. The Isle
of Skye is off the West coast of Scotland,
about two hours from Inverness which
THERE’S NOTHING STERILE
has a small commercial airport. For ABOUT THIS CULINARY TREAT,
those that want to make the most of IT’S A HOMELY COCOON OF
COOKERY WONDER.
their time off, small private planes
can land near the lodge with prior
permission for a complete luxury door
to door experience.
AED3,705 per person for 3 nights STAYCATIONS...
B&B, this includes all meals and two Tempted by the holidays mentioned
classes. Lodge hire and private 3-day
course available for AED16,176 per
but don’t have to time leave Dubai?
Read on...
couple.
WWW.CLAIRE-MACDONALD.COM Nobu offer monthly cooking classes
for small groups of people on the 1st
of every month. Groups of 12 – 15
learn how to make the high end res-
taurant’s signature sushi and pud-
dings before sitting down to a well
earned three course lunch. It costs
AED1,250 per person including lunch
and you need to book in advance.
NOBU, ATLANTIS – T 04 426 0760
The Park Hyatt also offers culinary
lessons with the chefs of their fan-
tastic Thai Kitchen and Tratteur res-
taurants and guests can choose what
they learn to cook! Perfect to brush
up on special meals to surprise loved
ones. Classes can be booked for be-
tween 2 – 8 people and cost AED295
From top: Kilnoch Lodge is housed in beautiful grounds, which
offer the perfect post-cooking/dining retreat. Guests will learn
per person.
how to cook smoked haddock kedgeree amongst other dishes. PARK HYATT - T 04 602 1804
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