In a bid to showcase authentic Emirati cuisine to its visitors, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) is set to roll-out the Emirati Cuisine & Hospitality Capacity Building Program, where all four- and five-star hotels across the emirate will offer and promote Emirati culture through its cuisine.
The program will establish a framework of regular training, monitoring and reviewing in order to ensure that Emirati culinary items are offering in F&B outlets in the finest hotels and hotel apartments across the emirate. By collaborating with leading industry partners, TCA Abu Dhabi will train and accredit culinary employees with the skills required to prepare Emirati cuisine and reference the rich heritage that is paramount to its authenticity.
Leading the program is TCA Abu Dhabi’s Emirati cuisine consultant Chef Khulood Atiq – the UAE’s first female celebrity chef – who is aiding F&B staff on training, consultation and how to correctly prepare Emirati dishes for an accurate representation of local food.
Under the initiative, hotel restaurants are encouraged to serve up an Emirati culinary station with a minimum of three items clearly labeled on breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. In addition, each dish will have a tent card explaining the brief history of the food and the ingredients used. Meanwhile, room service menus will have a minimum of two Emirati breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes in a la carte and room service menus.
The Emirati Cuisine & Hospitality Capacity Building Program will concentrate on the all-day-dining restaurants and room-service offering of four- and five star hotels across the emirate. This implementation is aimed at enhancing the overall visitor experience in Abu Dhabi, further establishing the emirate’s position as a unique sustainable tourism and culture destination.