Organic eating has by this time long been a leading—and admirable—trend in big cities from L.A. to London. But these places, with their nearby rolling hills and acre upon acre of shoreline, have had it easy when it comes to growing locally.
Not so with other metropolitan centers that popped up on less-than-fertile terrain. Certain cities require an extra dose of discipline to ensure their eateries are buying responsibly and serving local, organic food to residents and visitors alike.
Dubai, arguably the cultural center of the Middle East, sits directly within the Arabian Desert. Though the city abuts the Persian Gulf, the sandy soil beyond the water does little to assist in providing food for the city’s people. Still, in recent days, more and more people in the city are finding it easy to go organic, whether they do so in Dubai’s elegant dining spots or in the comfort of their own homes. No matter your culinary tastes, though, consult a good Dubai food guide and you’re to find something that suits your palate, organic or otherwise.
If you’re looking for an organic meal in the open night air, head to AZ.U.R, which has been known to refer to itself as Dubai’s first “food-to-fork” restaurant. This means that, in certain cases, the food it serves has come directly from the ground: no middlemen, no importing.
One of the leaders in Dubai’s organic-food movement, COMPTOIR 102 employs new consultant chefs as each season begins to ensure a variety of organic offerings and dishes. The chefs source food from local farms and markets each day, and there are always vegan-, sugar-, and dairy-free options available in the café.
If you’d rather have a quiet meal in at home, you’ll find that organic food markets are becoming more abundant as well. An organic market in Safa Park drew 10,000 visitors over its opening week in December. Organic Foods and Café is a family-run business with multiple locations and whose website features a “Meet Our Farmers” section. If you’re unsure what to buy, look for descriptions that boast destinations around Dubai. Options popular with professional foodies are fresh fish from the Arabian Gulf or chicken from neighboring Al Ain. If you’re eating out, many organic restaurants will grow produce in private gardens.
Though perhaps not as easy to stumble upon as in cities of a moderate climate, Dubai’s clean-eating centers aren’t exactly difficult to find. A quick search on line will turn up plenty of Top-5 or Top-10 lists, and you can always use the maps to find them physically. Fresh food — what can beat it? Maybe the city you’re eating in?
