Food and wine festivals are always happily decadent
events but when an event is hosted by the Jumeirah hotel group, luxury takes on a whole new level. Th first
annual
Jumeirah Festival of Taste takes place May 21-26, 2006 in Dubai
and features perhaps the most over-the-top dining event I have ever heard of. It is called the Ultimate Dinner Party
and will take four people on an unparalleled dining experience. It starts with a cocktail reception at the Jumeirah
Emirates Towers where they can mingle with the celebrity chefs participating in A Festival of Taste, then they are
taken by helicopter to the Burj Al Arab for a first and second course. A luxury car then takes them to the Villa
Beach Restaurant at Jumeirah Beach Hotel for a hot entrée. Then a limo takes them to the Pisces in Souk Madinat
Jumeirah for the main course, followed by a short walk to Napa for dessert, coffee, cigars and digestifs. The evening
ends with an overnight stay in a suite at Burj Al Arab and a morning breakfast as well as a receive a gift from
Jumeirah to commemorate the night. The party costs AED 100,000 for four (around $27,230). Other more traditional events
that are part of the festival include cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and book signings. The festival kicks
off with the ‘1001 Nights Meet the Stars Opening Event’ which includes a champagne reception,wine tasting,
live cooking stations featuring renowned chefs and live entertainment.
