Thematic pavilions at Expo 2020 plates up a gastronomical journey

The eateries at Expo 2020 Dubai‘s three trademark pavilions, Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability, will provide guests a tasty sample of its subthemes, ranging from culture-packed cafes to grab-and-go eating and plant-powered food.

For example, Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion is home to a number of plant-based cafes, including Floozie Cookie, which serves 100% vegan cookies baked on-site daily and bursting with a range of plant-powered sauces like date caramel, speculoos cream, and dark chocolate ganache.

Veg’d, an all-day vegan restaurant by famed plant-based chef Matthew Kenney, is also located at Terra. Kenney uses novel techniques and creative thinking to cook minimally processed meals that are vivid and healthful, with the goal of creating beautiful, sustainable, and nutritious plant-based food.

On the first floor of Terra, XYST brings Kenney’s plant-based approach to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, employing artistic license to create vibrant, playful adaptations of traditional cultural dishes, while Mudrá is a beautiful rooftop bar with DJs, an exciting cocktail menu, and plant-based cuisine, as well as amazing views of the Expo site. 

Meanwhile, taste education and contact amongst food producers are the emphasis of Mission Possible – The Opportunity Pavilion. Canvas by Coffee Culture, co-founded by Stephan Bhoyroo and Abdulla Ibrahim Suhail, is an Emirati coffee roastery designed to welcome Dubai’s ever-evolving creative community who seek a space to work, meet, design, and create, in line with the subtheme of Opportunity’s message to unlock the potential within individuals and communities. In minimalist, industrial settings, the customised coffee/co-working facility is loaded with a culture programme to enrich community members’ experiences. 

Alif Cafe by farm2table, presented to Expo by Abu Dhabi-based chef Jessica Queitsch, is a casual sit-down eatery that also offers a grab-and-go service in Alif – The Mobility Pavilion. Its gastronomical possibilities are a testament to movement and connection, shedding light on the history of important products such as coffee, rice, pasta, and spices, demonstrating how they have traveled along the silk route, impacting food around the world. 

Food is one of the best ways to learn about a new culture. Expo 2020 is asking visitors from all over the world to extend their minds and participate in creating a new world while exploring a variety of cultural and artistic attractions.