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The exclusive and gastronomic French chocolate brand Valrhona is planning to officially launch its ‘new generation’ of gourmet chocolate to the UAE next February.
Dulcey, the world’s first blond chocolate will be introduced into the Emirates via its exclusive regional distributor, Chef Middle East, at Gourmet Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s annual haute cuisine festival which runs in the UAE capital from February 5-20.
“Gourmet Abu Dhabi visitors will be able to discover this new edition to the global chocolate pantheon at a special chocolate themed dinner in the first week of the festival,” said Zeyneb Larabi, Middle East Sales Manager, Valrhona.
“All I can tell you is that it is not dark chocolate, it is not milk chocolate and it is not white chocolate –smelling of toasted Breton shortbread and caramelised milk with intense biscuity flavours and a creamy texture, Dulcey is a is a completely new creation by Valrhona and an irresistible chocolate taste sensation. We expect it will totally tantalise gastronomic tastebuds when presented by our ambassador master chefs and patissiers during Gourmet Abu Dhabi.”
Valrhona has signed up as Gourmet Abu Dhabi’s ‘Official Chocolate Partner’ while another Chef Middle East product – Les Vergers Boiron is the festival’s ‘Official Fruit & Vegetable Puree Partner.’ Chef Middle East will also feature its exclusive Sarrade French duck foie gras at a dinner event during the festival, and says all brands stand to benefit from Abu Dhabi’s consistently expanding hospitality portfolio.
“With the local hospitality industry expanding at an increasing rate, and with the number of new hotels coming on line, Abu Dhabi has become an increasingly important focus for our business in the UAE,” said Frederique Simon, Business Development Manager, Chef Middle East, which is Gourmet Abu Dhabi’s ‘Premium Gourmet Purveyor Partner.’
“We have experienced 30-40% growth in sales of our products in Abu Dhabi over the last two years and have a number of new high-end valued clients including the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr and Jumeirah at Etihad Towers.
“For industry-only brands such as ours, with products not available commercially, Gourmet Abu Dhabi provides us with a singular platform from which to promote our new and existing products to local clients and chefs and continue to support our global masterchef ambassadors.”
New Les Vergers Boiron processed and frozen food products will also be unveiled at February’s Gourmet Abu Dhabi.
“Our products are sold in the form of purees traditionally to meet the requirements of pastry chefs, although we have seen a steady increase in interest from mixologists interested in using our purees to inspire cocktail menus,” said Nael Berry, Area Sales Manager, Les Vergers Boiron.
“Abu Dhabi has been an active market for us over the past few years and we have a number of barman ambassadors within hotels in the UAE capital. For Gourmet Abu Dhabi we’re aiming to launch a new concept for our brand, which we are certain will capture the imagination of our regional professional customers.”
New culinary initiatives, a focus on traditional Emirati dining and local ingredients and a re-energised programme of events underpin the landmark fifth showing of Gourmet Abu Dhabi, which will roll out across more than 20 leading restaurants in the UAE capital. To mark the festival’s fifth anniversary, a series of revamped events, highly-focussed masterclasses and extensive culinary demonstrations and promotions will be driven by more than 14 international masterchefs, celebrity chefs and dozens of special guests.
“A gastronomic event of Gourmet Abu Dhabi’s calibre is only paralleled worldwide by Singapore and provides us with a vital opportunity to interact with both our Middle East clients and international industry ambassadors,” commented Frederique Simon.
“It is extremely rare to have this number of world-renowned masterchefs in the same location at the same time.”
Gourmet Abu Dhabi, which is presented by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), has attracted a high-profile line-up of sponsors which also includes Acqua Panna & S. Pellegrino as ‘Official Still & Sparkling Mineral Waters Partner;’ Etihad Airways, the UAE’s award-winning national carrier as ‘Official Airline Partner;’ High Spirits as ‘Beverage Partner’ and Steelite International as ‘Official Fine Porcelain Tableware Partner.’
For more information visit www.gourmetabudhabi.ae
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