Appetiser: tabloid!’s food news
What to eat, where to eat it and what’s new on the UAE’s dining scene
Rhodes Mezzanine turns five
British celebrity chef Gary Rhodes’ signature Dubai restaurant marks its five-year anniversary this month, and is celebrating with a birthday menu from September 4–8. The restaurant is focused on seasonality and changes its menu regularly, meaning there are plenty of past favourites in the archive to choose from. Some of Rhodes’ most popular dishes will be featured, including globe artichoke with soft baby leeks, warm poached egg and hollandaise sauce from 2008; goats cheese and fresh herb tortellini with sweet lemon asparagus from 2009; salmon with scallops, lobster and ginger butter sauce with a pineapple and passion fruit vinaigrette from 2010; roast fillet of beef, braised oxtail fritter, spinach, foie gras and carrot puree for non-vegetarians in 2011 and lemon meringue with strawberry shortbreads and raspberry sorbet and homemade scones and petit fours from this year. The menu is Dh500 per person; call 04-3176000.
Brunch is back
Book now for the first brunch of the season at award-winning Traiteur, the Park Hyatt’s French restaurant. Their luxurious Friday brunch starts again on September 7, from Dh425-Dh1,998 depending on your package. There’s live jazz and food includes Fine de Claire oysters, spit-roasted duck, lamb and USA beef from the rotisserie, lobster, shrimp and beef tenderloin from the grill station, eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and a crepe station. Brunch also restarts at Thai Kitchen, Dh195-245. Call 04-3172222.
Fridays at Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire
The French chef’s modern restaurant at the InterContinental Dubai in Festival City has just launched a four-course Friday lunch for Dh250 from noon-2.30pm, not including drinks.
Exhibitors announced for International Fine Food Festival
The UAE food festival taking place at Meydan Grandstand from October 30-November 2, is focusing on fine foods and beverages available in the region, especially slow grown, line caught or matured. Local farmers Organiliciouz, one of the first farms to be awarded with the Emirates Organic Product Mark stamp, will be one of the key exhibitors and will announce details of their own farmers market during the festival. Also exhibiting is Royal Culimer seafood processing, high-end kitchen appliance supplier Teka, exotic food importer Oakleaf European, Yemeni honey supplier Balqees Honey, online gourmet grocer Chez Charles, among many others. Visit ifffestival.com to register.
Cook at Jones
Today is your last chance to learn how to make pan roasted sea bass with lentil salad and hazelnut dressing at Jones the Grocer in Dubai this month. Class is at 7pm, Dh395 per person.
