Epicures and food lovers in Dubai, UAE are in for a treat with the recent launch of specialty food store Gourmet Station. The 6,500 sq.ft. retail space offers a veritable buffet of quality ingredients including wagyu beef from Australia, award-winning Cornish sea salt and Vallecoppa lemon-infused extra virgin olive oil from Italy.
Says general manager Michael Romero of the store's direction: "We are looking at a mix of clientele from all ethnicities and incomes. Seventy five per cent of our products are affordable. They are sourced around the world and will suit anyone looking for quality and want to be educated about these products."
What's on Offer at Dubai's Gourmet Station
Patrons are greeted by a stunning patisserie counter where delicacies like green tea cake and éclairs can be purchased and savoured at the seating outside the store with a cup of one of their specially sourced teas and coffees. Artisan breads are made on-site guaranteeing freshness in every morsel, in addition to a range of prepared salads, sandwiches and main courses, an advantage for time-pressed executives.
Aside from cheese, meat, deli and seafood counters, shelves are also stacked with chutneys, hand-made jams, balsamic vinegar, breakfast cereals and a small section of fresh fruit and vegetables. The store's products are continually updated throughout the year with special seasonal goodies brought in for festivals like Christmas, Easter, Ramadan and Diwali. Specialty chocolates from Valrhona and France's Yves Thurie make apt gifts for gourmands and chocolate lovers alike.
Affordable Pricing
Although the word gourmet instantly conjures up thoughts of a stiff price tag, Romero explains that this isn't the case. According to him gourmet means quality and ensures that the source is traceable and is made with fresh ingredients.
He highlights a freshly baked baguette at Gourmet Station costs just Dhs3 (US$0.82) and a coffee is Dhs12 (US$3.27). A slab of 20g Valrhona Guanaja bitter chocolate retails for Dhs8.50 (US$2.32) while125g Cornish sea salt costs Dhs14 (US$3.82)
Although purse strings have tightened due to the current economic climate, Romero is looking at the timing of the launch as an advantage. "People have stopped going to five-star restaurants and are now staying in and cooking at home. They can now have the same experience at a fraction of the cost because high-end products like caviar (Iranian Beluga caviar costs Dhs925 [US$252] for 30g) and wagyu beef (ribeye restails for Dhs345 [US$94] per kg) are available at a much lesser cost. So this is really working in our favour."
Also Available:
- Gift hampers in mini, select and deluxe sizes
- Rustichella d'Abruzzo pasta
- Assam Sankar and Darjeeling Green Singbulli teas
- Brazilian Santos Fairtrade and Indian Monsoon Malabar AA coffees
- Welsh mountain lamb
- Chocoholly and Montezuma's chocolates
- French, English, Italian and Swiss cheeses
- Australian barramundi, Dover sole and Alaskan halibut
Store Hours:
Gourmet Station is open 8am to 10pm, Sunday to Thursday and 8am to 11pm on Friday and Saturday. Call (04) 5154050 for more information.
Beverley Ann - Beverley Ann currently works as a new writer at The Weather Network in Oakville, Ontario. At her last job, she was the deputy editor of ...
