Filipino families, friends, and expats of all nationalities are expected to gather together in the biggest feast to take place in the UAE: The Filipino Food Festival!
Highlighting the best of the best of what Pinoy food has to offer, the 3-day festival happening from April 4-6 at the Rove Trade Centre Hotel will feature a variety of Filipino dishes from its classic renditions to modernized varieties of the dishes given a new twist!
The food festival, organized by the Philippine Consulate-General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates and The Filipino Times, UAE’s biggest Filipino newspaper and the largest digital platform for Filipinos in the region, will be featuring the following Filipino dishes and more at their lavish buffet for only Dh 79!
Chicken Adobo in Roasted Garlic Emulsion
Undoubtedly one of the Filipinos’ signature dishes that has since spawned pop culture references in movies, songs, poems and more, the Filipino Adobo is a must-serve for the Filipino Food Festival! The dish will be composed of chicken and duck liver thoroughly mixed and stewed with garlic, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and many more aromatics.
Barbecued Lamb Adobo
An Adobo with a twist for its main choice of meat, the Barbecued Lamb Adobo will be a hit for those searching that salty-sour mix of flavors as the lamb is grilled to perfection after being marinated in soy vinegar for days.
Beef Sisig
This Pinoy dish might have many versions all around the Philippines, but the dish stands out with its thrice cooked minced beef and oxtail mixed with a variety of spices including green chili fingers, bird’s eye chilis, with mayonnaise on the side.
Saffron Arroz Caldo
Temperatures might already be rising as days go by but nothing warms up a Filipino’s stomach better than a nice cup of Arroz Caldo! At the Filipino Food Festival, the Saffron Arroz Caldo will fill your carvings of a warm rice and chicken gruel that closely resembles the Chinese Congee and Italian Risotto.
Ginataang Seafood and Laing
The Filipino Food Festival wouldn’t be complete without a nice seafood offering – this time it’s the mix of shrimps, crabs, scallops, mussels, clams and more offerings of the sea, drenched in coconut milk and spices. This, as per Filipino dining table tradition, will be paired with Laing – a Filipino vegetable viand made from taro leaves cooked in coconut milk and spices that pairs extremely well with seafood.
Lamb Kaldereta
Another Lamb dish on the buffet is the Lamb Kaldereta, giving the traditional Kalderate dish a twist with its choice of meat – the lamb breast and/or shoulder that will be stewed in a luscious tomato sauce and aromatics.
Oxtail Kare-Kare
This dish just screams FILIPINO in it as the stewed oxtail dish is served on a thick peanut sauce, with fresh vegetables and a generous serving of bagoong on the side. Many Filipinos always have this dish served for special occasions and the Filipino Food Festival happening for the first time in the UAE is definitely a wonderful celebration to feature and serve that iconic Kare-Kare!
Just Desserts
Following that hearty meal, Filipinos can enjoy a selection of Filipino desserts including the classic Pinoy Halo-Halo, a mix of sweet desserts, fruits and more served with shaved ice and creamy milk. The Suman Sushi which is a mix of mango, jackfruit, strawberry, ube, and the Filipino version of the rice cake – the Suman. Last but definitely not the least on the list is the Turon a la Mode which is based on the banana street food dish, deconstructed to be served on a plate with ice cream.
Highlighting the Philippines’ rich culinary experience, the event coincides with the celebration of the Filipino Food Month this April, instituted by President Rodrigo Duterte through Presidential Proclamation no. 469 s. 2017.
Filipino Food Festival: All you need to know
What: Filipino Food Festival – a celebration of Philippine cuisine
Where: Rove Trade Centre Hotel, Dubai
When: April 4-6, 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Who: All Filipinos and expats are invited to attend. The festival is organized and spearheaded by The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates and The Filipino Times, UAE’s biggest Filipino newspaper and the largest digital platform for Filipinos in the Region
Manila-based Chef Michelle Adrillana will be bringing signature Filipino dishes with some twists, along with a live cooking demo
Cost: Dh 79 for a complete Filipino buffet meal including soft beverages
For reservations, contact:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +971 4 241 9300
