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February 27, 2008

Enjoy and Win - Barasti hosts the Jameson 360 St. Patricks Day Party

Jameson and Barasti St Patricks Day Party

On Saturday March 15th, Barasti hosts the Jameson 360 St. Patrick’s Day Party, allowing you and your friends to enjoy perfectly balanced Jameson served by the best bar team in town while watching Ireland vs. England in Twickenham. You may also be in with a chance to win a 5 day trip to Dublin on the night!

Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Chefs set records at the Emirates Salon Culinaire 2008

The creative Chefs from the Le Merdien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina made a splash at the Emirates Salon Culinaire 2008 this year, grabbing the highest number of gold and silver medals ever for the hotel!

Le Meridien Mina Seyahi scores at the Emirates Salon Culinaire 2008

Winners from the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi:

From pastry
Ibrahim Abu Zarqa - Five Plates of Dessert - Gold, Friandises/Petits/Pralines/Nougatines/Etc - Bronze
Hussam Al Rifai - Friandises/Petits/Pralines/Nougatines/Etc - Silver
Ramesh Kokkal - Bread Loaves and Showpiece - Bronze
Thushara Sanjeewa Ruwanpura - Bread Loaves and Showpiece - Merit

Kitchen Artist
Leonardo Sasa - Individual Fruit and/or Vegetable - Gold, Individual Ice Carving - Gold, Fruit and/or Vegetable Carving Showpiece - Silver, Chocolate Carving Showpiece - Silver
Samer Joseph Naifeh - New Arabian Cuisine - Gold, Four Course Vegetarian - Bronze
Dwarika Bhatt - practical cookery - australian beef - Bronze
Prasad Francis - Presentation of Tapas, Finger Food and Canapés - Bronze
Veronica D' Souza - Practical cookery - fish & seafood - Participation

Official Competition Information: The Emirates Culinary Guild: The Emirates International Salon Culinaire 2008, organised by the Emirates Culinary Guild (ECG), the UAE’s association of professional chefs, is a four day culinary extravaganza that includes seminars, competitions and demonstrations. The four day event will took place at Gulfood 2008 in alliance with the Dubai World Trade Centre and thrilled and inspired audiences with:

  • Cookery demonstrations
  • Live cooking competitions
  • Ice carving demonstrations
  • Buffet and banqueting showpieces
  • Pastry and sugar set pieces
  • Bakery and confectionery innovations

The whole ethos of the Emirates Salon Culinaire (ESC) is the creation of an event dedicated to the culinary arts and the celebration of food and its accoutrements displayed in a variety of pleasing forms. The ECG is a member of the World Association of Cooks Societies (WACS), the governing body of the 52-nation alliance of chef’s associations worldwide. All of the international judges at ESC 2008 were WACS approved.

February 21, 2008

The Krystal Dinner Show at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi ends February 29th

Shen Shen Acrobat 

The Krystal Dinner Show Announces End Date of February 29th. The premier appearance of the fabulous Krystal Dinner Show is drawing to close with the finale show announced for February 29th, after a very successful and extended run. The show has been running nightly since January 24th with brunches on Fridays and a Family Brunch Show on Saturdays.

The show has been watched so far by over 3,000 guests of all nationalities, residents and tourists alike, who have all been wowed by the amazing acts- from trapeze artists to  acrobatic ballet dancers- the show has been a hit with all ages too! The guests have included dignitaries such as the Consul General of India and by Royal Appointment, their Majesties, the King and Queen of Malaysia.

Directors Carol and Phillip Gandey are enthused by the response of the Dubai audience and the rave reviews in the Dubai press, such as “Eat drink and be wowed”, “It’s a night to remember...what more could you ask for”- 7days; “A must see event”- Gulf News and “The Krystal Dinner Show is quite unlike any other performance Dubai has ever seen!”- TimeOut Dubai. “It is such a boost when everyone tells us how much they have enjoyed their evening at the Grand SpeigelTent,” said Phillip, “They really appreciate the opportunity to dress up and make an evening with us a special occasion.” 

Gabriel the Gaucho

The Grand SpeigelTent itself has caused quite a stir in Dubai, with its unique design, which includes intimate booths, an ornate bar and art nouveau chandeliers. It is constructed of ancient wood, canvas and mirrors and is ornately decorated with grandiose stained glass windows and an opulent velvet interior- in which guests feel transported to another world. A sumptuous new menu has also been introduced for the last 2 weeks of the show.

The cast have been enjoying entertaining such a diverse audience and performing in intimate close quarters. It is the reaction of the audience that makes the cast perform to higher levels. “The artistes have really enjoyed performing their acts in such an intimate setting where they could literally reach out and touch the audience,” said Carol Gandey, “And mingling with the diners has been great fun.  Dubai audiences are a joy to play to - they really know how to enjoy themselves.”

Mimi Handstand

The show’s five-star cuisine, exceptional wines and world-class entertainment featuring a cast of 20 international artistes – singers, acrobats, aerialists, dancers, musicians and comedy performers - in the mesmerising beauty and unique ambience of the nostalgic Grand Spiegeltent, has made The Krystal Dinner show a “must-do” event. The organisers are urging guests to book their tickets as soon as possible to ensure they don’t miss out on seeing the show before it closes on February 29th.

Axxiom

SHOW INFORMATION:

Now Closing Feb 29th
Krystal Dinner Show- www.krystaldinnershow.com 
The Grand Spiegeltent
Le Meridien, Mina Seyahi
Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai

Advance booking is advised- last booking at 4pm on the day of show. Book at:

ShowbizME-04 366 2277
www.Showbizme.com

Time Out Tickets- 800 4669
www.timeoutickets.com

Or call 050 9206548 for more information about the show

Evening Shows-
Reception: 8.00 pm
Dinner & Show starts: 8.30pm
Tickets:
Category A – Dhs 395
Category B – Dhs 595
Category C – Dhs 695
Category D (VIP Box for 10) – Dhs 8000
All ticket categories include 6 course dinner.

Friday brunch
1pm start
Dhs 350- includes buffet brunch

Saturday Family Matinee- includes buffet
1pm start
Adults - Dhs320
Children - Dhs200

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Grand Spiegeltent is one of the largest remaining travelling tents of its type.  The 26-metre diameter structure – always referred to as “she”- is constructed of hewn and handcrafted wood, canvas, stained glass and mirrors. It takes a ten-strong specialised technical crew 3 days to unload the 3,000 individual components from containers and put them together on site.

The Grand Spiegeltent, the venue being used for the Krystal Dinner Show was originally discovered by Meno Terpstra in the depths of Costa Rican farmland. It was found only partial in form after being used for housing chickens, much of the structure had rotted and worn away but Meno could see the hidden beauty of this extraordinary structure. It is believed that it had arrived in Costa Rica by ship from Europe mid 19th century but its journey to the farmland is unknown. By using plans and designs from previous structures it was carefully and painstakingly recreated back to its original form.

It is the first Spiegeltent to be erected in the UAE or anywhere in the Middle East, and has been transported direct from The International Jazz Festival in Japan where it was a principal venue for the most prestigious performances.  It has also hosted major entertainment events in Montreal, Holland, England and the USA.

Although Spiegeltent is German for “Tent of Mirrors” – the first were designed and built in Belgium during the 19th century as luxurious travelling dance halls moving from country to country throughout Europe.  But they soon evolved into wider use as palaces of entertainment, attracting a spectrum of glittering events ranging from cabaret to music festivals, from exhibitions to wine and beer carnivals.

Over the years Spiegletents have hosted some of the world’s greatest performing artistes including German singer Marlene Dietrich who famously performed Falling in Love Again in a Spiegeltent during the 1930’s.

Europe’s love affair with the Spiegeltent cooled in the 1950’s with the advent of television and the growth of cinemas. Many of them ended up on scrap heaps – as their owners just couldn’t afford to maintain them.

But a handful remained protected by people dedicated to preserving these beautiful, intricate and atmospheric structures from a bygone age.  Built in the last century, the Grand Spiegeltent is a classic example of the best of its genre and provides the perfect setting for Dubai’s newest and most exciting exclusive fine dinning entertainment– The Krystal Dinner Show.

February 11, 2008

An inside look at the Maktoum Sailing Trophy 2008 - Mina Seyahi Dubai Videos

A video from the Maktoum Sailing Trophy Dubai (to give you a preview of things to come this year!). The prestigious Maktoum Sailing Trophy 2008 is a Regatta of 10 Inshore Races and one offshore passage race for individual yachts from the Thursday 21st February 2008 to Friday 29th February 2008. The Organising Authority is the UAE Marine Sports Federation through the Mina Seyahi Dubai (a division of DIMC). The race will take place at the new Mina Seyahi Dubai (MSD), situated in the City of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Maktoum Sailing Trophy Schedule

  • Thursday 21st: Press Conference 11.00am
  • Friday 22nd  Registration & Measurement 9.30am-6pm, Opening Ceremony 4.30pm
  • Saturday 23rd  Registration & Measurement 9.30am-6pm, Skippers Briefing 6pm, Welcome Dinner 7.30pm
  • Sunday 24th  Practice Race - All classes 12.30pm
  • Monday 25th-Friday 29th  Five Racing days - All Classes First Warning Signal Not before 10.55am
  • Friday 29th  Prize-Giving Ceremony and Gala Dinner at the new The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

Here is another great video showing the many facets of sailing in Dubai with Mina Seyahi (DIMC - Dubai International Marine Club). The video covers the Dubai Match Race Challenge, the Dubai Junior Regatta as well as the ISAF Nations Cup Dubai.

For more info visit:

February 05, 2008

Barasti on Tour is Back! Win a trip for two to the Six Nations Rugby Tournament

On Tour with Barasti - Win tickets to the Six Nations Rugby Tournament

Barasti on Tour is back! Barasti is sending 6 people - 3 couples to the Wales vs France match, 15th March 2008 in Cardiff. The draw takes place on the 1st March at Barasti. This promotion is brought to you in conjunction with A&E and Fosters. Starting Wed 6th February, every AED 100 you spend gets you an entry coupon into the Rugby 6 Nations Championship draw (When you purchase Fosters you double your chance).