Beyond the Plate | Workshop by David Joseph Constable

Beyond the Plate: Exploring food’s place in culture, class, design and society, not just aesthetics and cooking techniques. “Beyond the Plate” invites participants to uncover the rich stories and social forces that food embodies. This workshop goes far beyond recipes and presentation to examine how meals connect to culture, class, design and society at large. Through writing exercises and discussion, you’ll discover how every bite reflects histories, identities and power dynamics, and learn to craft narratives that reveal the deeper meaning behind what we eat. Bio David Joseph Constable is a leading international restaurant critic and travel writer who has interviewed some of the world’s most recognisable chefs and reviewed restaurants for more than 15 years. He is the editor-in-chief and global chair of GAYA, a new global fine dining guide set to launch from Dubai in 2026. He previously served as editor and chief investigator for Gault&Millau in the UAE and has written for The Sunday Times, The Independent, The Daily Mail, Tatler, Condé Nast Traveler, Esquire and the South China Morning Post. He lives in Dubai and spends much of the year travelling.