Ping Pong appoints red hot team for September opening

The new eatery - which promises to get shoppers at Dubai hot and steamy with its 'little parcels of deliciousness' when it opens - will have a hand-picked team.

Italian Angelo Domenico Rosato, General Manager, will be assisted, on the culinary side, by Luke Anokye and Wu GuoRong who will take charge of the all important steamed baskets of dim sum and other deliciously prepared plates as Dim Sum Chef.

Daniel During, Ping Pong Middle East Managing Director, said:

"I believe our success lies in our people. Passion for what we do is what drives our team. We breathe food and innovative, delicious drinks in everything we do. Our handpicked team of professionals will ensure the success of Ping Pong in the Middle East."

"Angelo, Luke and Wu collectively bring a wealth of hospitality experience to the table," added During. "Each has their own specific role and with them on board, I am convinced that Ping Pong Dubai will be a sizzling success."

Chef Wu GuoRong will be serving up a celebrated collection of over 40 dim sum dishes and specials which are all on the menu and diners can expect flavours ranging from the finest translucent dumplings filled with spicy chicken in a chilli sauce.

"Along with tempting dishes such as our sticky rice wrapped in Lotus leaves through to the ever-popular hoi sin duck spring roll, we know cater for every discerning palate" said Luke Anokye.

"And, to complement our dishes, we have an exciting cocktails list offering non alcoholic drinks for our diners made from freshly prepared and delicious ingredients," added Luke.

In addition to the extensive mocktail list, the drinks menu also features a large collection of Chinese teas ranging from China's traditional Green Tea through to flowering amaranth, osmathus, jasmine and lilly or blackcurrant and hibiscus.

General Manager Angelo Domenico Rosato said, "Our eatery, open all day, every day from 10am till midnight, is simply a modern take on a very ancient Chinese tradition where hundreds of years ago, merchants on the Silk Road would stop at tea houses en route to rest their weary feet, relax and drink tea with their fellow travelers and share Dim Sum. Taking the same concept but modernizing it, we want the weary Dubai Mall shoppers who have shopped until they are ready to drop, to drop in and be indulged."

Ping Pong Dubai Mall will be joining 12 hugely popular restaurants in London and will be the first Ping Pong restaurant outside of the United Kingdom.

With more planned openings across Europe, Asia and the Americas, the Dubai eatery will be the flagship Middle East restaurant and pave the way for future openings.

Following the style of the company's Great Marlborough Street flagship restaurant, located just off London's Regent Street, diners can expect a clean, open look with spacious dining areas. Large round table and benches, made from old oak taken from sustainable forests in Switzerland embody Ping Pong's values of community, authenticity and respect for nature.

"At the heart of every table are rotating cores of recessed and backlit onyx glass," added Angelo. "The soft glow at this focal point of activity - where dishes are shared and exchanged - highlights the social nature of dining at our restaurants."

Diners will be able to choose from an extensive menu which includes individual dishes or for the sharing experience, a series of set menus which include a selection of baked, steamed and fried items...and a dessert.

Vegetarians have a wonderful choice of dishes to pick from and for the health conscious diner, there is a Healthy Fix set menu below 450 calories - less than a quarter of a diner's daily allowance and a 5th of daily saturated fat.

With sensible pricing and good explanations of each dish, the menu is a feat of innovation and excitement prepared by specially trained chefs and made with the freshest of ingredients.

Set to enjoy a soft launch in September and official opening in October, Ping Pong at Dubai Mall will be situated on the Lower Ground, Lake Fountain side.