Best of the brunch bunch

Best for families
Generation Creation family Saturday brunch at Mazina, The Address, Dubai Marina Mall
What goes better with good food – and we’re talking five-star fine-dining standards here – than good old-fashioned family fun? The Generation Creation brunch is a simple but effective idea – a carvery and live-cooking stations featuring cuisine from around the globe, with a task thrown in for two family members (from different generations, of course) to tackle.

From constructing a festive gingerbread house and creating a cartoon character out of balloons, to making mocktails, the emphasis is on working as a team. Oh, and did I mention it all takes place in front of an audience after an expert gives a demonstration? There are even prizes on offer, which include winning another Generation Creation brunch, haircuts, tickets to Kidzania and trips for two to the top of the Burj Khalifa.

But, as we all know, it’s more about taking part than winning, or it is for the parents – my children are ultra-competitive, and always give 110 per cent in a bid to come first. That’s why they were almost too excited to eat their food before the creation part of the brunch began. Luckily, the buffet included so many of their favourites they couldn’t resist for long.

Sushi, Thai satay kebabs, Shanghai noodles, dim sum, freshly cooked seafood – squid, tuna and succulent prawns – along with roast duck, turkey and beef, meant there was something for everyone. My children love Chinese food and soon piled their plates high with prawn crackers, vegetable rolls and special fried rice, while I tucked into vegetable biryani – which was as good as anything I ate in India – and my husband feasted on miso soup and seafood salad.

There was an entire kids’ menu along with a chocolate fountain, fruits, ice cream, pancakes, desserts and sweets. And if that wasn’t enough excitement packed into one Saturday afternoon – Mazina bucks the Friday brunch trend – there was also a bouncy castle, face painting and Wii games to keep the little ones entertained. But it’s the creation task that’s always the highlight of the day, and has families clamouring to take part, happy to make fools of themselves.

Why would my husband spend half an hour transforming our ten-year-old son into a Johnny Depp-lookalike pirate using only a napkin and face paints in front of a restaurant packed with strangers? Because they had to come up with an idea together, collaborate and complete the task within time, laughing at their mistakes along the way. My son was happy to stand in front of the judges, telling them how they had created his look, and was ecstatic when he was declared the winner.

His prize? A haircut, which he happily gave to his father, saying he deserved it for all his hard work. For a smile as big as his – blacked-out pirate teeth and all – it was one of the best afternoons we’ve spent as a family in Dubai.

Price: Dh220 adults, children aged six to 12 are half price, and children under six eat free.
Book it: 04 4367777 or visit www.theaddress.com for more information
Why not try… Christmas Carols performed by the Jumeirah Music Centre Choir at 6-7pm in the hotel on December 22 and 23. Or sample the Festive Brunch at Mazina on December 25 from Dh395 per person.

Best for entertainment
Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate Friday Brunch
When it comes to brunching in Dubai, variety really is the spice of (lunchtime) life. If you can’t decide between Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Indian or Arabic food it doesn’t matter – they’ve got them all, plus more, here in the amazing setting of the Mövenpick’s Arabic-inspired lobby, Al Bahou.

Feast on just-like-Mamma-makes pizzas, dripping in mozzarella Sicilian-style, while a magician who makes David Blaine look slow performs highly impressive and quick card tricks at your table. How did a two of diamonds that my son signed and placed back in the pack end up in my shocked husband’s wallet? And just exactly what did he do to splay the prongs of the fork I’d been tucking into lunch with just seconds beforehand as if they were liquid metal?

It was certainly food for thought as we went on a tour of the cooking stations, watching chefs creating culinary masterpieces before our very eyes. From traditional couscous with roasted leg of lamb, egg-fried rice with tofu stir-fry and linguine all’astice, we almost ended up with eyes bigger than our bellies. That was before I explored the room filled with desserts – a special favourite for the children, who kept going back for more.

Once they’d eaten, they went off to sample the supervised kids’ room with video games, movies, activities and arts and crafts, before the best bit of all – a petting zoo. My four-year-old daughter fell instantly in love with Yorkie, a – what else? – Yorkshire terrier puppy, while my little boy cradled rabbits and guinea pigs, chased chinchillas and spoke to a hilariously grumpy parrot.

The kids couldn’t get enough of it, queuing patiently for a cuddle with a snake, and to take Yorkie for a walk around the hall.

My little girl steadfastly refused to let anyone else have the dog’s lead, and sat cuddling the very happy Yorkie for the majority of the afternoon. (Guess what she’s asked for this Christmas? Thanks a lot, Ibn Battuta!).

Watching all this animal action from our table meant we could tuck into more and more sumptuous food, only pausing when a mime artist began to perform. For someone who didn’t utter a word he soon had the entire room enthralled with his comedic silent skits, juggling and balancing act. It was a fun way to end the afternoon, while we sipped Turkish coffees.

If you’re looking for a medley of activities over the festive period, head to Ibn Battuta for a brunch to remember. With a menagerie of animals, a magician and a mime artist, you can sit back, eat as much turkey as you like and let them entertain you.

Price: From Dh295 for adults, children aged six to 11 are half price and those under six eat free.
Book it: 04 4445613 or email restaurantreservations.ibnbattuta@moevenpick.com for more information
Why not try… Christmas Day Brunch. There will be an appearance by Santa, with gifts. From Dh295 for adults and Dh150 for kids six to 12 years old. Little ones under six eat for free.

Best for outdoor dining
Jumeirah Creekside Hotel Nomad Friday Brunch
As the weather cools around Christmas, it’s the perfect time for brunching alfresco. Jumeirah Creekside has only just opened and is still shiny new, but the owners have put a lot of thought into the stylish interiors and family-friendly surroundings. So as well as the achingly hip decor, there’s a luxuriously landscaped outdoors with the usual terrace, large heated pool, perfectly mown lawn and a lake.

There’s feeding time for the ducks every hour, picnic-style brunching if you prefer (I never do because it means I always become a sitting target for creepy crawlies, but book beforehand if you do), a supervised kids’ club with cookie-decorating, personal-trainer fun classes, Xboxes, entertainment and a bouncy castle – and that’s before you even mention the fabulous international food.

With sumptuous starters, including a salad bar, and all the usual suspects, the main courses are from around the world, scattered both inside and outside Nomad restaurant. Wander between Italian, Spanish, Chinese, American, and Mexican live-cooking stations, huts and grills, while attentive and friendly staff make sure you’re well looked after and have enough bread for the ducks.

Highlights for me were the Spanish quiches, which were tiny but packed with flavour, the authentic Italian pizza, and the Turkish vegetarian moussaka, but the children feasted on true US-style burgers and hot dogs, with crispy fries and – a big treat only for weekends – ketchup. My husband dined on tender ribs, barbecued lamb and fresh seafood, before we hit the desserts. The long, modern version of a Black Forest gateau just had to be tasted – it had oodles of cream, berries and melt-in-your-mouth choux pastry – while the sunshine meant we went back for ice-cream cones.

It was a fantastic family outing where, after eating, we watched ducklings follow their mothers on the lake while baby turtles clambered onto mini floating houses. To top it off, there was a magician who performed tricks up close, where no matter how many times our children cut a length of his rope with giant scissors it always instantly became whole again, and cards they picked flew out of the pack into his locked wallet. Our kids were still talking about him at bedtime as we reminisced over every dish we’d tried and marvelled at how much bread the ducks had eaten. They’re the lucky ones I’ve decided, as they get to eat there every day. But I liked it so much I’m even debating whether to face my fears and book the picnic area next time!

Price: Dh395 per adult, with accompanying kids under the age of 12 eating for free. Until January 31, 2013 Nomad is offering two-for-one adults brunch. To take advantage of this, mention the deal when booking.
Book it: 04 2308459 or email JCHrestaurants@jumeirah.com for
more information.

Best for à la carte menu
Friday Family Fun brunch at the Cavendish restaurant, Bonnington
In a setting as elegant as the Bonnington hotel, it’s only right and proper that along with the buffet stations there’s an à la carte main menu. We’d ventured over to JLT after hearing about the brunch on offer at the very refined Cavendish, which is proving a big hit with families wanting something extra special. It’s not just the usual kids’ club with face painting, movies and activities that are proving a draw, it’s the delicious food, and old-school sophisticated atmosphere.

The restaurant is the kind of place you’d imagine holding a wedding reception for a small but chic gathering, or a birthday party for a VIP.

There’s no view to speak of, no one thing that dominates the proceedings, but the delicacies on offer, the impeccable service and atmosphere are reminiscent of having a Sunday roast at a country club or a smaller, modern take on London’s The Dorchester hotel.

After being shown to our table – in prime position in front of a couple performing lounge-style songs – we tested the starter station and I was hooked at first bite. I’d chosen a tiny caprese – slivers of stacked mozzarella, tomato and basil – in a glass and it was a-maz-ing. Asparagus cooked to perfection drizzled with hollandaise sauce followed to delight my tastebuds, while my children and husband tucked into jumbo prawns and fall-off-the-bone ribs.

Mains should have been a difficult choice, there were so many à la carte dishes to try, but for me it was easy: roast. My husband ummed and aahed over the roast lamb and roast beef, eventually choosing the former, but I’m vegetarian and didn’t want any of that.

I was happy with all the trimmings – the roast potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, Yorkshire pudding and lashings of gravy.

Every mouthful was so delicious I couldn’t stop smiling as I tucked in. I grinned at the children, who were eating roast too, and they grinned back. I smiled at my husband and he smiled back. No one spoke for five minutes, we were too busy savouring every morsel.

“This is fantastic,” was all I could say when I finally paused, knife and fork mid-air. My family nodded, then it was back to hoovering up everything on our plates.

We were all stuffed when we’d finished and took a breather to listen to the music before visiting the dessert station. The children’s eyes grew huge as they saw chocolates and sweets, as well as tiny crème caramels, trifles and jellies. They were taster size and delicious, so we went back for seconds. And thirds.

Finally, we were full and the children went off to play in the kids’ club while we had tea and coffee, and tapped our fingers in time to James Blunt’s You’re Beautiful, which summed up the menu. It’s well worth venturing over to discover this little gem of a brunch, but be quick – it’s too good to stay a secret for much longer.

Price: Dh299 for adults, children aged 6-12 are half price and under six eat free.
Book it: 04 3560000 or www.bonningtontower.com for more information

Best for a classic roast
Friday Raffles Roast at Azur, Raffles Dubai
Mention the word ‘Christmas’ to a lot of expats and they’ll picture snow, a man with a white beard in a red suit and a traditional roast turkey dinner.

While I eschew the turkey (I grew up on a farm and hand-reared all the animals, which made it hard to eat them afterwards), I’m a sucker for roast potatoes, sage and onion stuffing, mashed swede and Yorkshire puddings. I even love vegetarian gravy and – eek! – cabbage and Brussels sprouts. So it was with a giant grin I surveyed all before me in Azur, Raffles’ all-day dining restaurant overlooking the botanical garden.
Chefs in crisp white linen stood behind a row of Victorian-style roasted meats – lamb forequarter, haunch of mutton and classic beef.

In celebration of Raffles’ 125th anniversary – the first hotel opened in Singapore that long ago – speciality cuts dating back to 1880 have been added to the brunch, along with roast potatoes cooked in dripping.

As the rest of my family waited at the carvery, I headed for the non-meat section, where I piled my plate high with carrots, peas, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower cheese, vegetable roulade, cabbage, sprouts, swedes, parsnips and honey-glazed pumpkin.

To top off my mountain of vegetables I added a Yorkshire pudding and vegetable gravy. It was enough to make a girl homesick for her mother’s Sunday best.
With the biggest roast dinner ever on my plate, I headed back to our table and tucked in, while my husband took pictures of me. He was amazed by my gluttony, but soon stopped smiling when he tasted his roast beef, and declared it the best he’d ever had. Our children ate a mini roast – though they’d only eat one vegetable each! – and then ran off to the pizza station where a chef was teaching the little ones how to make the perfect Margherita.

I’d helped myself to so much I had to take breaks, but eventually I devoured my huge lunch. But I learnt a valuable lesson from my mistake, which I won’t repeat again – never eat so much main course that you leave no room for dessert. With such classics as trifle, Eton mess and apple and blackberry crumble (and even banana split and bread-and-butter pudding) it was a shame, but I’ll certainly make up for it next time – by leaving enough room for seconds!

Price: Adults from Dh235, two children per couple eat free, while additional children from six to 12 years old eat at half price. Children below the age of six eat free.
Book it: 04 3248888 or email dining.dubai@raffles.com for more information
Why not try… Christmas Tea at Raffles Salon, daily from 2pm to 7pm. Tuck into tiny treats and delicacies while listening to your favourite festive songs. There’s
a Raffles playroom to keep the little ones entertained while you can even sing along!

Best for chocolate lovers
Mad for Brunch at Pullman, Mall of the Emirates
Sometimes it’s hard to drag the children away from making sandcastles on the beach or splashing in the sea. But two words easily prise them away from their fun in the sun to a Friday brunch: chocolate room.

The bosses at the Pullman are a clever lot. Not only did they create a chic hotel, in the most convenient location, right next to the MOE at affordable prices, but they armed themselves with the ultimate secret weapon while masterminding the perfect brunch. Forget the barbecue station, with its sizzling satays, kofta and seafood skewers, or the freshest smoked salmon or langoustines. What children really want is the stuff of dreams – a giant room filled with chocolate from floor to ceiling.

Everywhere you look there’s white, milk and dark chocolate, in every shape possible, which you can just break off and eat. It’s kiddy paradise, but first there are plenty of savouries to explore, inside and out.

The barbecue is on the terrace, while the Sanabel restaurant is filled with a salad and juice bar, desserts and live-cooking stations. One of my family’s favourite foods is Japanese and my husband and son pounced on the sushi and sashimi, followed by prawns and king crab, cooked to order. My little girl and I feasted on vegetable lasagne, wok-fried noodles with vegetables – she even tried the veal roulade with wild mushrooms.

But the buffet – delicious as it was – was just leading up to one thing, the visit to the chocolate room, where the children snapped off fragments of sculptured chocolates and ate them, no plate required. Not surprisingly, it wasn’t just children enjoying the edible displays – grown men and women were acting like kids in a candy store (or chocolate room!) too.

Luckily, I’m not a big chocolate fan because it would easily be possible to put on the Dubai stone in a single visit to that room, and I gave my children just a five-minute slot after eliciting the promise of an extra tooth-brushing session. Their endorphin levels soaring, I tempted them away, and ended my brunch with my favourite – the cheese. There were deliciously gooey bries and camembert, which I ate with breads, and crispy crackers. Brilliant!

Price: From Dh190 (Christmas brunch on December 25 from Dh250)
Book it: 04 3772000 for more information.