Dubai's First Farmers' Market

Yael Mejia is the founder and powerhouse behind Baker & Spice Dubai, and today I met her on the terrace outside the restaurant with its awesome view of the Burj Khalifa. But we weren’t looking at that. Below us was the very first fruits of her new venture, a proper farmers’ market, right here in Dubai.

The Baker & Spice philosophy is refreshingly simple; fresh, organic, homemade and local. Yael works very closely with farmers and suppliers, buying direct wherever possible, and with a strong focus on freshness and seasonality.

Today’s market brought together a number of these farmers and suppliers, giving them an opportunity to showcase their produce and sell direct to the public. Mazaraa Organic Farm from Abu Dhabi, Salata Farms from Ras Al Khaimah and Dar Al Fatah Farm from Abu Dhabi were all here, along with other retailers and producers sympathetic to the cause.

The range of fruit and vegetables was impressive, given that we are nearing the end of the growing and harvesting season, but is was the sheer quality and freshness of the produce that made the biggest impact. Also evident was the passion and pride of the producers, deservedly so. I came away with a healthy selection of vegetables and fruit, and will spend a happy hour or three wondering how best to use them. The tiny organics strawberries are especially good, small, intense and bursting with flavour, the way strawberries used to be.

Judging by the sheer number of people thronging the terrace, this bustling little market is set to make a big impact on the diets of Dubai. It supports local producers, minimizes transport impacts, and delivers some of the best ingredients I have been able to buy in eight years in this city.

It is likely to be repeated next Friday and for a couple of weekends after that, 11.00am to 3.00pm – check with Baker & Spice on 04 4252240 or go to www.bakerandspiceme.com

When Advertising Goes Bad

Is it just me, or is the current LG radio commercial promoting their ‘marriage’ collections one of the most cack-handed pieces of drivel ever foisted on a long-suffering public. There are many poor quality commercials broadcast over our airwaves, but few ever descend to such depths of perfidy as this execrable insult.

It is awful. Racial stereotyping. Incompetent writing. Leaden delivery. Idiotic concept. Ludicrous premise. It beggars belief that a creative team thought it was worth doing, an account exec presented it to a client, a client approved it, a production house made it, three voice artists recorded it, and a station played it. And not one of these people had the wit, intelligence or courage to question whether it was any good.

It is insufficient to blame the medium, though radio is traditionally regarded as the Cinderella of advertising media, the place where junior teams are sent to cut their teeth on a real job. Good money was spent on this bad advertising, and it was money wasted – I am sure that the result will be the precise reverse of what the client intended.

Two things I know – this ad is so bad, it is the first I have felt compelled to specifically criticize. And second, it actually should be preserved, as a case study in precisely how not to do radio.