Spicing up the festive season

Gone are the days of simple buffets and traditional menus — nowdays outlets must go the extra mile and provide a truly memorable experience if they wish to attract the festive crowd, says Lucy Taylor.

The winter months are a festive time of year - with Eid Mubarak, Christmas wishes and New Year's cheer, there tend to be plenty of high spirits around.

Of course, with these high spirits come high prices. F&B outlets all over the region will be doing a roaring trade, with prices reflecting customer demand.

But today's consumer is a discerning creature; he will not pay through the nose for the same old offering. Nowadays, people demand a little more bang for their buck.

As a result, the Middle East is seeing a steady increase in unusual festive F&B offerings that deliver not just a meal, but an experience.

Promoting the party season

Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates will mark UAE National Day and Eid Al Adha with one of the city's largest Arabic buffets at Sezzam restaurant, located on the edge of the shopping mall.

For Christmas, Sezzam will have Santa‘s Grotto - and each afternoon Santa will make a special appearance at Aspen, the hotel's lobby café, for a festive afternoon tea where customers will be given an entry pass to Ski Dubai's winter wonderland.

At the Al Murooj Rotana, Dubai, outlets will host a range of entertaining experiences, including caroling at all-day-dining outlet Pergolas and live band performances at British pub Double Decker.

Pergolas will also host a special ‘1001 Arabian Nights' themed evening to celebrate the New Year, with a DJ and tannoura - a traditional skirt dance - to entertain guests.

"Being a local-based company, Rotana constantly put emphasis on the local culture," explains the property's F&B manager Dominique Jossi.

The newly-opened Dubai Marina Yacht Club (DMYC) is also looking for a piece of the festive action. The waterside café-bistro 25/55 is already open, as is in-house deli The Gourmet Store, while main restaurant Aquarra, a seafood and Asian fusion concept positioned between bistro and fine dining, is set to open this month.

DMYC is covering every base, offering various brunch, dinner and events packages. But the club's really unique proposition will be a floating pontoon located in the marina's waters, offering a top-end outdoor dining option.

The club's food and beverage manager Helen Landau comments: "Obviously we're new, but that can be an advantage; the staff are raring to go - and of course we're offering something different, with our main restaurant lending a seafood slant to the festive season."

Landau also highlights the pontoon concept as a major selling point. "We're especially promoting this for romantic dinners and Christmas lunch.

 And for New Year's Eve, it will be a great spot to watch the fireworks from," she adds.

Elsewhere, another newly-opened property is hoping to make its mark. Media Rotana Dubai's three outlets - Italian Prego's, all-day-dining concept Channels and gastro- pub Nelson's - will offer a variety of traditional meal deals.

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