Showing posts with label UAE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UAE. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Al Muthana, Burj Al Arab, Dubai

A three course meal in the world’s only 7 star hotel. We have anticipated this moment since my colleague Wen Wei floated the idea a few days before we were scheduled to fly to Dubai. The prospect of dining in Burj Al Arab captivated my thoughts.

We were to have a 3 course meal at Dhs 395. The experience began when the entrance of Burj Al Arab that led to an atrium 30 storeys high. We boarded the lift and it took us 27 storeys high in 7 seconds. We faced the Persian Gulf, faced nothingness, yet it was everything because we faced Mecca.

We dined in Al Muthana, the cantilevered restaurant near the top of Burj Al Arab. The position of the restaurant makes the entire complex look like a crucifix, much to the dismay of the Muslims. Today, planes are not allowed to fly from the Persian Gulf into the city: to avoid seeing the alleged Christian influence that is the landmark of the famous Muslim city.

hello, Mecca. Oh, the irony.

Atlantis. I love how it looks a coral-like underwater kingdom (above water)

soak up the sun

it still is a dessert, after all

The service was impeccable. There was a butler that watched over us like a hawk for anything that we needed from our table. To our dismay, we were originally given a seat by the bar, but our persistence on inquiring for a window seat yielded one right before our main dish was served.

this area is transformed into skyview bar at night.

lady who played beautiful piano songs

Piano lady's shoes. Kudos. Seriously.

Afternoon tea in skyview bar, from the other side


unsalted and salted

bread basket

pizza looking bread

Each dish was designed like an artwork. A dash berry jam here, a dollop of cream sauce there. The prawn was cushioned by the salad greens, and the pomegranate peeked intermittently from the greens. The plating was an art in itself.

Roasted pumpkin soup, cured duck breast, pear and chestnuts

Pan seared tiger prawns, amoked aubergine and pomegrante

Pan seared barramundi, creamed salsify and wild mushrooms

the fish is so juicy - hope you can taste it with your eyes!

Roasted Chicken breast, braised lentils, morel sauce

hello Dhs 30 artichoke side dish

Chocolate and Cherry Safari, kirsch ice cream

top view of the chocolate and cherry safari

Gazpacho of forest berries, yoghurt sorbet


Even the ladies' room looked decadent. Glass tables, subdued lighting, and Hermes perfume for the taking.

The ladies' room oozed of affluence

right outside the ladies room

Wen Wei explored further into the restaurant and found the world's most expensive cocktail. I don't care much about drinking, but having most as its qualifier elicited a a whiff of awe from me.

proof of life!

It was such a beautiful dining experience. Definitely something to share for with your loved ones, but it will be much better if someone else will foot the bill.

Paul's, Emirates Mall, Dubai

The grand finale of our trip was late lunch at Burj Al Arab. We expected Al Muthana (the restaurant in the Burj) to serve finger food at a ridiculously expensive price, so we popped in Emirates Mall (now the second biggest mall in Dubai, after Dubai Mall) for a quick brunch.

I took Wen Wei to Paul's, where our good friend Brian took us last year. Paul's was one of Brian's favorite cafes in Dubai. I wish I had that kind of favourite here in Singapore.

Wen Wei and I both had the Continental Breakfast - coffee, fresh orange juice, viennoiserie (I chose a choc croissant) 1/2 flute a lancienne (some really hard break that almost broke my jaw), butter and strawberry and apricot jam for Dhs 35

its cute and creative containers like these that allow them to charge so much

the sun filters through the roof and casts a lovely light on our breakfast. makes it taste more worth it.

hidden mickey!


Paul Cafe
Level G, Store 219
Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Barshaa First
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: 971 4 341 4844

Monday, November 09, 2009

Al Makan, Souk Madinat, Dubai

Before dropping by Atlantis, Wen Wei and I visited Souk Madinat for lunch. We entered the only restaurant that looked Middle Eastern, because most of the eating establishments catered for Westerners and Asians.


The pinay waitress assured us that the food we chose were as local as it can get.

Ghee - local sauce made of butter and spices

Arseeya Chicken - blended cooked rice with fresh chicken, topped with local ghee at Dhs 36

Jeshid - cooked baby shark fish fillet with local glee onion, garlic, tomato, goriander leaves, lemon and special spices from UAE at Dhs 54

And then, we dropped by one of my most favorite places on earth. I will never tire of going to Lost Chambers. It feels peaceful.



Al Makan
Souk Madinat Jumeirah,
Jumeirah, Dubai
Tel: 971 4 368 6593

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Caffe Carluccio's, Dubai Mall

Wenwei and I were done with expensive hotel food so we ventured out and landed in Carluccio's, one of the most recommended restaurants in the Mall's 1200 establishments.

Spaghetti alle vongole in bianco - neopolitan spaghetti with whole fresh clams, garlic, herbs and chilli at DHS 58

Penne piccanti - penne with beef sauce made with chillies and rosemary at DHS 54

But what really made us sit there in the first place, the discovery of the brilliant cafe was just a happy accident, was because we wanted front row streets to the fountain show. It was a beautiful symphony of light, water and sound.

We sat through 4 shows, with 20 minute intervals per show.





And in the end, we had crepe al frutti di bosco - homemade pancake topped with a compote of woodland fruits and served with ice cream for DHS 32



Caffe Carluccio's
Lower Ground Floor Boardwalk,
Dubai Mall, United Arab Emirates
Tel: 971 4 4341320