HEAT: Low carb, low fat and guilt-free

Dubai: You’d think a restaurant named HEAT is more likely to put off people looking for cooler options at this time of year. But then, the California-style H.E.A.T Café and Grill is no ordinary eating outlet. Located on Jumeirah Beach Road, H.E.A.T, acronym for Healthy Eats And Treats, offers low-fat, low-carb, gluten-free options which, as I discovered, has become a rage among Dubai’s fitness fanatics.

It isn’t a large joint by any stretch of the imagination. Seating 21 people, it is perpetually teeming with customers conspicuous by their bulging biceps and toned, lithe frames, depending on the gender.

Among the first things I noticed was the open kitchen counter where you can be privy to what goes into making the dishes. And my first beat-the-heat order was a Vanilla Ice Cold Whey Protein Shake. Costing Dh10, it definitely tasted whey better than what I expected a protein shake to taste.

I then started out with the most expensive dish which came at Dh40. The small pieces of chicken in the low-carb Asian style Lettuce Wrap marinated in Worcestershire sauce and garnished with bell pepper, tasted how chicken ought to taste, delicious and juicy, laying to rest my initial apprehensions about healthy food.

Feeling encouraged, I then dug into a low-fat offering, the Classic Chicken Wrap (Dh25). The chicken in this case was marinated with Oregano and Worcestershire Sauce – I soon learned that barring the Citrus Marinated Chicken Dh40), all had Worcestershire sauce as the marinade. The bread is made from gluten-free wheat and while the chicken tasted a bit dry, I still felt light enough to ask for more.

The Beef Skewers (Dh35) came next and to be honest I am not a beef fan. To my pleasant surprise, however, the pieces were succulent enough to force a rethink of my opinion.

All this while I was wondering how my constitution would react to all the chicken and beef I was devouring, especially since I had also managed to take a bite from the Chicken wrapped in Turkey Strips and Grilled Chicken Breast topped with grilled mushroom and salsa, both highly recommended.

I chose to switch my attention to a breakfast favourite, the protein pancakes (Dh25). Made of eggwhites and protein powder and sprinkled with cinnamon and topped with maple syrup, it looked inviting enough. But something was missing. I am used to the ones that have milk, butter and sugar and this had none. But then again I had to remind myself that this is not a regular joint and nothing here exceeded 400 cal. A tad disappointed, I ordered a latte (Dh15), which thankfully tasted genuinely coffee-like and a muffin that finally satiated my sweet cravings.

I left the place promising myself to come back for the chicken dishes that offered promise and of course for the Asian Style Lettuce Wraps, the coffee, the muffin and the…OK…OK…I really need to stop here.

Details:

Meal for two: Dh90

Location: Jumeirah Beach Road, Umm Suqeim 2

Opening hours: Breakfast 6am-11am; Lunch/Dinner: 11am-12am

Contact: 04-388 1117