The five star feast to break Ramadan

Описание: (4 Jul 2014) Sunrise over Atlantis The Palm Hotel in Dubai.
Inside it's a picture of serenity, but chefs and organisers are working feverishly behind the scenes.
As the faithful fast and pray during the day, it's action stations for staff here in the Asateer Ramadan tent at the hotel.
Last minute preparations on the restaurant floor and chefs chop methodically in the kitchens.
Seventy chefs have been drafted in to prepare more than 150 types of food that will be on the menu for when people break their fast.
Ramadan is a time for friends and families to gather for feasts after sundown and before dawn. There is a tendency to eat a lot of sweets.
The Asateer Ramadan tent was first introduced four years ago and is becoming a firm favourite with local UAE residents to come and savour the delights.
Two buffets are put on twice a night for iftar and suhur serving a variety of traditional and international food from all corners of the world. Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast and suhur is the pre-fasting meal to give energy for the day ahead.
The head chef, Ali El Bourji says he is proud of his team's work:
"We have one of the biggest tents in the region if not the whole Middle East. The variety that we present, for iftar, for example, we have 150 kinds. 150 varieties of food in the Asateer tent. And if we go back to suhur and we add them all together. They are about 250 kinds."
The level of work for the chefs is intense and it seems, endless.
"Of course there is stress and pressure, but it's the month of Ramadan. It is a month of, how do I say it, it is a month where one has to be cool and relaxed because it isn't just one day or two. Ramadan is a whole month," says Ali El Bourji.
But there is no rest for Ali El Bourji and his team. As soon as Ramadan 2014 is completed, his team then starts planning next year's festivities.
"We prepare for Ramadan. If Ramadan finishes now, say the last day of Ramadan, we have one day break and the next day, once Ramadan finishes we are preparing for the next Ramadan. A year before Ramadan we are preparing and studying."
Saida Massmoudi the director of events here says standards and expectations are high:
"Between iftar and suhur we have between 2000 to 2500 guests for the two meals together. So we are very careful that all the things that are in the tent meets everyone's expectation."
The iftar and suhur are available every night during Ramadan at the Atlantis the Palm Hotel for between AED 195 (USD $53) or AED 270 ( USD $73.5) for buffet or set menu.


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