Hitting the sweet-spot at Caramel Abu Dhabi
By Martin Fullard, Guides Writer
There are many things that can drive a man to the brink of insanity on Valentine’s Day; choosing the right flowers, buying the right gift and, worst of all, picking the right restaurant. Whereas you have full control over the Gerbera daisies and the Pandora charm bracelet, you’re outsourcing the restaurant experience to someone else: the chef, the waiter, and the hostess. Trust, then, can only be based on a hunch.
However, all hope is not lost because today I offer you a solution. Last night I decided to treat my wife to a night-out at Caramel, at The Collection – which is part of the St. Regis Resort on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. I can safely say that any fears you may have about your Valentine’s Day meal being potentially thwarted are unnecessary. Caramel’s set Valentine’s menu and attentive staff won’t let you down.
Upon a warm greeting, my wife and I were escorted to our table by a charming hostess. The tone was set immediately when she struck an excellent balance by making us feel welcome without going overboard. There was no customary pronoun abuse or needless fussing; a good start, then.
The set menu offers two choices of starters: a buffalo mozzarella salad and a layered shrimp and avocado salad with Louis sauce. It was a bit of a coin toss, so my wife had one and me the other. For a light and sweet entrée then the shrimp and avocado salad gets the nod; it won’t fill you up but will zap any hungry impatience you may have built up in anticipation.
The buffalo mozzarella salad is also delightful, although a little heavy on the balsamic dressing.
For mains there are three options: pan seared fresh sea bream with creamed leeks and fennel orange salad, black truffle pappardelle in cream sauce and parmesan and CAB beef tenderloin with parsnip puree and braised potatoes.
My wife opted for the pan seared sea bream, and couldn’t speak highly enough of it. Indeed when I tried a small piece myself I could do nothing but coo sagely in agreement. The fennel orange salad that accompanied the fish gave it a sweet citric tang, yet remained light and fluffy.
In my view, however, the winner in this department was the beef tenderloin – tender being the operative word. Cutting off a slice was achieved by simply hovering the knife above the cut of beef; its softness (mine was medium-rare) was no misteak… The braised potatoes came shaped like love-hearts, rendering my alpha-male exterior completely redundant. Although arguably the girly noises I made while enjoying the parsnip puree contributed to that as well. For a main course, either will do more than satisfy.
For dessert you can choose between the chocolate lava with liquid raspberry center and sorbet and the raspberry cheesecake with a raspberry coulis. Typically, my wife and I had one each. We expected the chocolate lava cake to be a warm dessert, but it wasn’t. It was more of a chocolate mousse on a chewy base. Delicious, certainly, and a great option for someone who can’t decide between fruit and chocolate.
The raspberry cheesecake, however, was the favoured son. There are no surprises here, it’s as good a cheesecake as you would expect to find anywhere else.
The fact that the capital is not short of fine-dining restaurants can make picking the right restaurant a minefield. With so many options out there how can you be sure that you’ve picked the best? Well take it from me, if you’re going mad by trying to work out where to take your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day, and are looking for exquisite food, first-class service, and a romantic ambience, then ditch the city and head over to Caramel.
It’s as sweet as the name suggests.
Cost: Dh399 per person, includes a glass of Luc Belaire Rose
Timings: From 6pm
Phone: 02 678 3344
Website: www.caramelgroup.com
A floral love story at Clé Dubai
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Plush velvet and smooth leather, juxtaposed against classic wood panelling overlooked by sphere-shaped circular light installations... This Valentine’s Day, indulge in sensory pleasures at Clé Dubai.
The heart of the restaurant is Michelin-starred Chef Greg Malouf’s award-winning contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine. Guests can choose either the a la carte menu or an intimate three-course dinner that is just perfect for sharing. Hand-dived scallops with moutabbal and fennel salad, burrata with dukkah, red leaves and pomegranate dressing, white marrows, and cabbage rolls with freekah stuffing cooked in Italian tomatoes, monkfish tagine with couscous and organic chickpeas, rich chocolate tart with Turkish delight, yoghurt and honey pannacotta with apple caramel, are just some of the dishes meant for tantalising taste buds.
While appetites are being attended to, allow resident performers Cirque Éloize to entertain with a thrilling number specially prepared for this night of romance. The in-house DJ will also be on hand to set the mood. To end the evening on a memorable note, each lady will be gifted with a bottle of the newly launched Chloé Love Story fragrance.
Cost: Dh450 per person, includes one glas of bubbly and a gift (Chloe Love Story perfume)
Timings: 7pm to 11:30pm
Phone: 04 3525150
Valentine's Day to remember
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This Valentine’s Day escape to Ramada Hotel & Suites Ras Al Khaimah, a luxury boutique hotel located on the northern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, the perfect location for captivating romance.
Treat your loved one into an enchanting and relaxing evening with a romantic Valentine’s dinner at Bundoo Khan Restaurant. The culinary team has prepared a special menu for the evening starting with a welcome drink served with red rose buds. Start your dinner with non-alcoholic champagne or a mini selection of Mediterranean Bruschetta. There are several selections of salads and tasty soups.
There are four selections for the main course – Chilean Spigola which is pan roasted sea bass fillet, with a tomato capers reduction, and sautéed spinach; Filetto Di Manzo which is beef steak served with grilled vegetable and non alcoholic red wine jus infused with fresh thyme; Petto Di Pollo Con Patate Al Rosmarino, Aglio Arrostito E Salsa Al Vino Rosso which is Roasted chicken breast with rosemary potato, oven baked garlic and non-alcoholic red wine jus and Valentine’s platter of beef tenderloin mini steak grilled chicken breast, basa fillet with your choice of condiments and sauce.
Complete your Valentine’s Dinner with mouth-watering sweets of assorted pastry, rice pudding, cream caramel and strawberry cheesecake topped with fresh whipped cream.
If you have a desired dish prepared in your style and choice of condiments, the team will be delighted to assist and accommodate your special request.
Cost: Dh125 per person
Timings: 7pm onwards
Phone: 07 205 8888
Website: www.ramada.com
Compiled by Florence Pia G. Yu, News Editor - Web
