Jumeirah goes farm-to-table in Italian restaurants

Fresh seasonal ingredients sources from local farms are being featured on new ‘farm-to-table’ menus at two of Jumeirah Group’s signature Italian restaurants.

The menus at Alta Badia in Jumeirah Emirates Towers and Segreto in Souk Madinat Jumeirah are part of the restaurants’ commitment to supporting UAE produce, the company said in a statement.

Dishes introduced in the menus include Variazione di Cavolo Nero, kale three ways with poached egg and crunchy bread; Zucchine e Uovo, zucchini puree, goat cheese, poached egg, bread; Pollo al Rosmarino, rosemary chicken breast, baby spinach, local potatoes, lettuce; and Sorbetto al Limone e Timo, lemon thyme sorbet, plum tomato and vanilla compote and many more.

Jumeirah Group executive Italian chef Claudio Melis said: “Food that has to travel long distances may not contain the same nutrients as fresh vegetables grown locally.

“Fruits and vegetables harvested locally can be picked when they are at the perfect ripeness, resulting in better flavour and more nutrients. This has a positive impact on local agriculture and a reduced carbon footprint.”

Although this latest effort is in Dubai restaurants, the issue of using local produce in the UAE has recently once again come to prominence with the ‘Go Local’ campaign by Abu Dhabi’s tourism authorities.

It is encouraging hotels across the emirate to use more produce from local farmers in their restaurants and F&B offerings.

Meanwhile, the recent Caterer Middle East Head Chef Survey 2014 showed that chefs in the region are increasingly using local produce as part of their sustainability efforts.