Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the city’s most pioneering culinary destination, is celebrating the origins of Emirati cuisine with a curated dining experience that will see local flavours elevated into a fine-dining setting. Bringing together four handpicked Emirati Chefs and four celebrated DIFC dining institutions, Off the Menu – The Emirati Edition will see the crème de la crème of regional gastronomy collaborate for a spectacular fusion menu that showcases the best of both cuisines. Taking place from 8 September to 13 November 2019 at the Centre, a new Off the Menu – The Emirati Edition collaboration will be available to diners every fortnight with the restaurants and chefs being revealed throughout Dubai.
The unique epicurean adventure will commence at BB Social Dining, a modern Asian concept on 8 September 2019, and will see Emirati Chef Musabbeh Al Kaabi collaborate with renowned Chef and co-owner Alex Stumpf for an Emirati-Asian inspired social dining menu.
Peyman Al Awadhi, Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications, DIFC Authority, said: “DIFC is an all-encompassing lifestyle destination where some of the world’s best restaurants are situated, and we are continually seeking ways to push the boundaries of culinary innovation and give our vibrant community an experience felt nowhere else in the world. ‘Off the Menu – The Emirati Edition’ will pay homage to Dubai’s local heritage and traditions, as well as the melting pot of cultures and cuisines it is renowned for. It also illustrates the dynamic roster of events we have in the Centre, marking a new season of exciting programming to come”.
The BB Social Dining and Emirati Chef Musabbeh set menu will consist of three delectable courses including sharing plates of Spicy Crab & Seafood soup, Jasheed Roll with shiso & yuzu tobiko, and Lentil Salad, dates & pickled vegetable for appetisers; Confit Lamb Ouzi, pickled red onions, saffron-raisin bao for main course; and Layer of Roasted Pumpkin puree fresh cream and caramel disc for dessert. The menu will be paired with two refreshing mocktails including Merchant Tea and Hibiscus. It will be priced at AED 195 per person.
Emirati Chef Musabbeh said: “It was a pleasure to work with Chef Alex to create an Emirati twist with BB’s distinct Asian ingredients and flavours. The collaboration felt like a natural fit as there are great synergies between the sharing traditions of Emirati cuisine and the restaurant’s social dining concept, both bringing people together over a shared love of food. I am really looking forward to welcoming guests to enjoy this experiential journey and live the flavours and new techniques that we have created”.
Alex Stumpf, Chef and Co-Owner of BB Social Dining said: “BB Social Dining is an owner-operated home-grown concept that I developed with my two business partners, so, naturally, working with our local DIFC community is one of our key drivers. Showcasing Emirati cuisine is vital to the growth of Dubai’s restaurant scene, and we are delighted to have been selected to kick start this series of ‘Off the Menu – The Emirati Edition’ dinner pop-ups with Emirati Chef Musabbeh”.
With more than 18 years of experience as an award-winning consulting and Executive Emirati Chef, Musabbeh is best known for his Ramadan cooking shows with celebrity guests. Meanwhile, Chef Alex Stumpf has over two decades of experience in the kitchen and has overseen many award-winning restaurants in the UAE. Now at his own concept, BB Social Dining, he is truly expressing his passion to create unique, contemporary dishes blending the best of Asia with Middle Eastern ingredients.
BB Social Dining, an owner-operated restaurant concept is derived from the Arabic word, ‘habibi’ which means love. Hidden away in DIFC, BB with its playful three-storey ‘townhouse’ interior is a speakeasy for restaurants with its name inspired by a modern Asian menu of single plate bao buns, bites, bowls and barbeque dishes, with a nod to Middle Eastern ingredients. The three owners of this homegrown licensed concept are also the operators helming the kitchen (chef patron Alex Stumpf), operations (Spero Panagakis) and business development (Shab Stumpf). In its near two year of operation, BB has welcomed Dubai’s ruling family for lunch and dinner on a number of occasions, as well as world renowned chefs visiting Dubai.
The remaining three ‘Off the Menu – The Emirati Edition’ chef and dining collaborations will be unveiled throughout the 10 weeks. For more information on all of DIFC’s dining options, visit https://www.difc.ae/lifestyle/dine/
