I have been holding on to the pictures I had taken at the Tavola Food Bloggers' Breakfast last Saturday, and everyday saying to myself: I have to blog this amazing event. Somehow, the week passed, and I never managed to find the time! At some point, I was trying to view and work on the pictures, and was dosing off in front of the screen, waking up, dosing off and so on! What an eventful week I had!
Last Saturday, Tavola invited food bloggers - along with some food professionals and food writers - for breakfast and demonstrations at their Jumeirah Beach road branch, in Plaza Centre. I was so excited about this event, as I would finally meet the UAE Food Bloggers, the very people whom I read and interacted with almost everyday, online. Now I was going to meet them in person! What an amazing pool of talented people these bloggers are! There are the avid foodies, the keen photographers, the loved caterers, the cake decorators, restaurant review writers... All together, representing a group of UAE Bloggers who have been keeping readers amused with their blogs. I was super excited about meeting each one of them, and delighted to finally put faces to names I have been chatting with for a while now! In person they are such lovely, friendly people whose welcoming attitude makes you feel right at home.
EVENT MENU
Breakfast - Coffee - Meet the Bloggers
Knife Care demonstration - by ZWILLING
Japanese Food Presentation Demo- by Wakami Saab
PRIZES Draw
Wilton Cake Decorating Courses - by Tavola
Food Styling for Photography Demo - by Fiona Archibold
Tavola, as always, never disappoints, never fails to delight. Walking into the Jumeirah Beach Road branch brings back so many memories for me. It reminds me of back when I was catering, as I used to shop there almost every week!! Especially in the cake decorating section, a small room located towards the back, that is more like my candy store! I would get the small cookie bags, the chocolate boxes, cake boards, cake stands, cookie cutters, food colourings, PME gumpaste and sugar craft tools...etc. Anything you need for cake decorating, candy or cookie making, is in that small room in the back! I would spend hours there! Then there is the rest of the store, which frankly is my absolute favourite! The shopping experience is so good, that I am transformed into a shopaholic in a second! From the best knife sets, to copper pots and pans, the store has everything you need to cook, and present your food in style! I have been using the cake stands and tiered platters forever, they even became kind of my signature look! You can see them everywhere on my facebook pictures, and you would have seen them at parties I catered, then you would see them again at my house when I would be hosting lol... And am always asked: "Where do you buy your beautiful stands and platters?" Here I tell you, check out TAVOLA, but beware because all the merchandise is beautiful!
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| Barley Salad cups with dates |
Once breakfast was over, we were introduced to the ZWILLING Knives, and were introduced to the different knife types, their uses, how to handle your knives, care and even sharpen them using different tools: the honing steel rod, the stone and other specialised knife sharpeners. I even realised that Tavola have a knife care and sharpening service, which is great as this way, you can guarantee not to ruin your knife when sharpening at home!
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| The right angle to sharpen your knife using a sharpening stone |
She explained the basics of Japanese Food Presentation; the use of colour and lines in the plating of food and how the Japanese always find inspiration in nature and demonstrate those inspirations in their presentation. She even demonstrated how to create a flower out of a piece of radish... & it goes like this:
Wakami then demonstrated an excellent snack for children's lunch boxes, that can also be transformed into an elegant cocktail Bite!! How Fab is that!! check it out:
Yes there is more!! She also showed us how good presentation can transform as simple a dish as a potato salad, into picture perfect deliciousness:
Also present at the Food Bloggers morning was Suzan, the writer of the cookbook 'When Suzan Cooks', who has generously offered 3 copies of her book to 3 lucky draw winners :)
Tavola also offered some giveaways for draw winners. After receiving the gifts, we were introduced to Wilton's Cake Deccorating courses, which take place at this very TAVOLA store. The courses responsible for the ever growing UAE Cake Decorating community. These courses train you in the Wilton Method of cake decorating, from basic decorating skills like piping and buttercream flowers, to fondant and sugar paste, moving on to the more intricate gumpaste and modelling courses. If you are into cake decorating, these courses will satisfy all your decorating needs, and will help you start creating these fabulously designed wedding and celebration cakes.
And finally, it was the talented and inspirational, Fiona Archibold - Food stylist. I cannot tell you enough about how nice it is to watch Fiona at work, doing what she does best. From her tool belt, with which i was smitten, to her tool boxes, props, to the actual food to be styled. She is a full on artist whose company is always inspirational.
Fiona, talked about food styling basics, tricks, props, backgrounds... She demonstrated a beautiful Boeuf
Bourguingnon:
Then moved on to demonstrate a creamy Pasta Presentation with Shrimps
Finally the beautiful Quail Presentation with the vibrant Pomegranate, which she made look Divine!
What more can I tell you about a rather interesting morning, full of inspiration and food?! I can only say, Tavola have exceeded all expectations, and have delighted us with an event so tailored to this group's interests and needs, just as their store is perfectly tailored to all those who love life, food, fashionable homes and living well :)
Thank you TAVOLA for a wonderful morning, we could not have asked for more!! & Thank you Kari Heron for organising this fabulous event, you are a star!! :)
I leave you with some more pics... Enjoy xx
:)
