Life & Style | Food

The brunch bunch

Treat your tastebuds to some fresh Friday flavours around the city

  • By Pauline M. Forte, Features Writer
  • Published: 00:00 December 5, 2009
  • Unwind

  • Image Credit: Supplied

Bateaux Dubai Brunch Cruise

 For a brunch on water, board the Bateaux Dubai Cruise at noon every Friday and enjoy a 14-kilometre journey along the Creek while feasting on Caribbean- and Latin-inspired dishes.

Departing at 12.30pm from the Bur Dubai side of Dubai Creek (opposite the British Embassy), the all-glass modern boat travels down the Creek, passing by city landmarks such as Maktoum Bridge, Dubai Courts, Clock Tower, Twin Towers, Old Souk, Gold Souk, Bastakiya and Dubai Museum.

The buffet is served on the lower deck and features tropically infused salads — palm heart and green banana, avocado, tomato and red onion and Caribbean coleslaw. Breakfast lovers can help themselves to scrambled and poached eggs and plantain frittata.

Served with the grilled fish, tiger prawns and chicken are baked beans, coconut rice, beef, roast sweet-potato gratin, lamb curry with roti and jerk chicken.

To enjoy the landscape, sit down on the deck lounges while listening to DJ Sticky Fingers, who spins Latin rhythms, soul grooves and laid-back reggae.

Before disembarking at 3.30pm, head back to the buffet table for some chocolate brownie, Greek yoghurt with fruit compote, cake or crepes with lime juice.

 Bateaux Dubai Brunch Cruise, Dubai Creek, Bur Dubai side

Every Friday from 12.30-3.30pm (ship boards at noon and departs at 12.30pm)

Price: Dh350 (buffet and beverages)

 Blue Orange

The Blue Orange, part of the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, is a lively buffet restaurant with cooking stations that enable you to watch your meal being prepared. The chefs prepare everything from Japanese sushi to Arabic mezzah, Chinese dimsum to Belgian waffles, taking you on a culinary trip around the world.

The decor inside is modern and bright, with comfortable seating, marble flooring and impressive lighting, filling one wall with the shape of a colourful sea horse. The terrace outside has great views of the pool and the waters of the Gulf beyond.

There is a carving station offering prime rib with jus, horseradish sauce and Yorkshire puddings, and there are pizzas, quiches and the classic fish and chips. There is also an omelette station for breakfast, which includes sausages, hash browns and baked beans.

You may want to stop at the pasta station for some duck confit ravioli or creamed spinach with garlic, or try the Arabic lamb ouzzie, lentil soup or chicken tajine with couscous.

If you are looking for Indian food, take a trip to the section serving shellfish Malabar curry, minted and classic tandoori served with mixed dal, and sweet and savoury naans. If there is still room on your plate, you might want to sample the preparations of the live wok station, with its selections of sliced beef with ginger, Thai fried fish with lemon grass, red curry and steamed jasmine rice or green seaweed miso soup.

Na3Na3

Guests at Na3Na3 restaurant at The Address Dubai Mall can enjoy the Friday Brunch.

The chefs will take diners through a culinary journey, bringing the best of Middle Eastern cuisine, cooked with authentic ingredients and seasonings.

Guests can also savour a range of dishes from live cooking stations, including saj, or Arabian bread, and tasty shawarma. The brunch is priced from Dh245 and is inclusive of soft beverages. Children under 11 can dine for free.

 Barasti

Barasti, at the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, recently introduced Friday brunch.

Every week, there will be a casual brunch by the pool, with live cooking stations and some of the best sea views in Dubai. Brunch timings are from 12.30-4.30pm. It is priced at Dh295 per person and is inclusive of food, beverages and pool access.

Q Brunch at Esca Restaurant

 Once you find Qamardeen Hotel, which is a bit hidden in Old Town, Downtown Burj Dubai, head for Esca Restaurant for the Q Brunch. Esca Restaurant is offering Friday brunch with a difference, as 10 per cent of the proceeds are donated to Safe & Sound, Burjuman's breast cancer awareness programme.

Don't miss the enormous grilled prawns and oysters with a few capers and a squeeze of lime. Try the potato gratin and stop by at the cheese table before moving on to the sushi and salad counter, where you can savour the tuna carpaccio.

The restaurant also has a state-of-the-art oven for bread and pizza. While guests wait for Chef Pierpaolo Fadda to bake pizza, they can pick fresh seafood from a cooking station and have it prepared in front of them. For dessert, try the fruit and chocolate mousses, and cheesecakes.

The brunch offers three menu options. Children under 12 can dine for free.

Esca Restaurant at Qamardeen Hotel, Downtown Burj Dubai

Every Friday, from 12.30-3.30pm

Price: Dh195, Dh245, Dh295

 Drunch at Warehouse, Le Meridien Dubai

The best thing about the Friday Drunch at Warehouse, Le Méridien Dubai, is that guests are served tapas-style. The restaurant offers flavours from all around the world, including Japan, France and India. Enjoy a range of dishes such as the signature Kunnafah salmon, lamb chops with garlic purée, mesclun salad with buffalo mozzarella and pistou.

Don't miss the butternut squash soup, flavoured with aromatic Asian herbs and the masala fries. Dessert includes chocolate mousse cake, crème brulée, macaron, strawberry mousse and fruits.

Warehouse, Le Meridien Dubai

Every Friday, from 1-4pm

Price: Dh266

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