Cultural heritage dining experience ‘Antica Australis’ returns to Ras Al Khaimah Art 2024 Festival

Ras Al Khaimah Art has announced the return of the award-winning Antica Australis cultural heritage dining experience from Australia as part of the immersive, sensory-led programming for the Ras Al Khaimah Art 2024 Festival.

Run by husband-and-wife team, Paolo and Kelly Picarazzi, Antica Australis is based in the tiny, historic village of Carcoar in regional Australia and is renowned as one of the ‘top ten regional restaurants in Australia worth travelling for’. It specialises in serving ancient dishes from Paolo’s home region of Ciociaria in central Italy using local organic produce and giving them a contemporary twist.

“We are both thrilled to be able to return to Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village to present our Antica Australis cultural heritage dining experiences as part of the Ras Al Khaimah Art 2024 Festival program,” said Paolo & Kelly Picarazzi, co-owners of Antica Australis.

“This year we have taken inspiration from the heritage and warm hospitality of Ras Al Khaimah to create a series of four-course set menus featuring a fusion of regional Italian cuisine using local organic produce from Ras Al Khaimah, Australian native ingredients and Emirati flavours. It’s an unparalleled cultural connection through food. You will need to experience it to believe it!”

Antica Australis will present a limited series of lunch and dinner events over three weekends during the Festival from Saturday 3 to Sunday 18 February 2024. A different four-course set menu will be presented by Paolo over each weekend, with different accompanying storytelling by Kelly between courses.

A sneak peek into the dishes reveals a pistachio risotto with fried local organic dates, an ‘ethereal’ tiramisu with pomegranate and Sidr jelly, and a medieval milk pudding made with camel milk infused with saffron and served with salted popcorn and organic date molasses.

The Antica Australis Cultural Heritage Dining Experiences will be presented as ticketed festival events for Saturday lunch and dinner as well as Sunday lunch dining sessions. Antica Experience Packages include a short, guided tour of Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village on arrival, a four-course curated set menu with two inclusive beverages, complimentary still & sparkling water as well as stovetop espresso and biscuits, and an immersive storytelling performance hosted in a traditional Emirati open courtyard surrounded by trees, bougainvillea and fairy lights.

In addition, Antica Australis Cooking Demonstration & Dinner events will be held on Friday 9^th and 16^th February 2024, offering an exclusive opportunity for guests to learn how to cook a two-course Italian meal (pasta & dessert) and to take a seat at the Chef’s Table with Paolo and Kelly Picarazzi of Antica Australis.

For more information about Antica Australis and to purchase event tickets please visit www.rakart.ae/programming or contact: [email protected]. Seating is limited to 20 guests per dining experience and advance booking is essential.

Details:

Antica Cooking Demo & Dinner

Tuesday 9^th and 16^th February 2024

AED 300 per person

10 guests per session

Antica Cultural Dining Experience

Saturday 3^rd, 10^th and 17^th February 2024: lunch (1pm) and dinner (7pm)

AED 400 inclusive of two soft drinks / AED 500 inclusive of two grape beverages

Antica Cultural Dining Experience

Sunday 4^th, 11^th and 18^th February 2024: lunch only (1pm)

AED 400 inclusive of two soft drinks / AED 500 inclusive of two grape beverages

To stay up to date with the latest events, including film nights, art exhibitions, and community gatherings at Ras Al Khaimah Art, visit https://www.rakart.ae/.