Gourmet Abu Dhabi 2011, the 16-day culinary festival, has unveiled British celebrity chef James Martin as the ‘for-one-night-only’ celebrity dinner host chef.

The culinary event will run across a dozen of the emirate’s premium fine dining restaurants from February 2 to 17, 2011.

The Celebrity Dinner at the Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island on February 3 will see Martin prepare his speciality British fare - combining traditional ingredients and cooking techniques with a modern twist - for up to 250 guests.

Martin, the pin-up star of several popular UK television shows, will conduct a one-off, free-to-the-public masterclass the following day. The 37-year-old supercar lover promises guests a cooking tutorial they can recreate in their home kitchens.

“Over the years, I’ve learnt a lot from my travels and other chefs,” said Martin, who has appeared in scores of TV shows and published a series of diverse cookery books.

“Although my style of food is changing all the time, one thing people need to remember when demonstrating cooking is to cook things people can achieve at home – this is exactly what I intend to do in my Gourmet Abu Dhabi masterclass.”

“I visited the circuit on Yas Island as it was being built, so I would love to see it now it has been completed. I imagine, much like Abu Dhabi in general, it is a very exciting and dynamic place with a great deal to see and do,” added Martin.

“With so many British expatriates working and living in the UAE, and many other nationalities now well acquainted with James through his television appearances we anticipate strong booking for his Celebrity Dinner and masterclass session,” said Noura Al Dhaheri, acting manager, leisure product development, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which organises Gourmet Abu Dhabi.

“James’ lust for life and adventure has ensured that his popularity extends far beyond his television work and public appearances. He represents a new breed of celebrity chef – one whose style of cooking is transferrable to a mass audience and he is someone who devises menus that are easily transferred to the home,” she added. – TradeArabia News Service