Now, Cavalli chocolate
Designer Roberto Cavalli’s Dubai restaurant and club is synonymous with glamour and excess. His Caffe, due to open next week at The Beach in JBR, aims to restore some balance, with a focus on healthier dishes. Oh, and chocolate. The cafe has a “chocolate corner” with 13 flavours, of Cavalli chocolate, including cinnamon, chilli, gianduja cream with salt an coconut. Modelled on an Italian cafe, it will be open for lunch and dinner, or just a coffee amid the animal-print surroundings.
Junoon opening at Shangri-La
We’ve finally got an opening month for the city’s next Indian fine-dining restaurant: Junoon, a Michelin-starred restaurant from New York. Opening at the Shangri-La Dubai on Shaikh Zayed Road, it serves traditional and modern Indian cuisine, we are told, although looking at these pictures, contemporary presentation is a signature. It’s being opened by restauratur Rajesh Bhardwaj with his team including chef Vikas Khanna. Signature dishes — which we understand will be tweaked for local tastes — include saloni macchi, brussels muttar and shahi lamb shank. Stay tuned for the opening date.
The Cinnamon Club at Zabeel Saray
In other Indian fine-dining news, Vivek Singh, of London restaurant The Cinnamon Club, will be a visiting chef at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray’s Amala Mughlai restaurant from November 13-15, with a highlight being a spice masterclass, Dh265, November 14-15. There are a la carte dinners on November 13, 14 and 15, or a set tasting menu (Dh325). Call 04-4530444.
Kitsch: From Cupcakes to Counter
The cupcake bakery has had a healthy, organic makeover — but don’t worry, their cupcakes are as they were. The bakery has rebranded to Kitsch Counter, serving a more wholesome menu devised by its founder, Dalia Dogmoch Soubra. Items will be prepared daily from organic ingredients, where possible, says the author of Food Love and Life from Dalia’s Kitchen. “We decided to return to the way we started Kitsch in Beirut in 2006, with a cafe offering savoury and sweet delights. We started out as a food concept with high emphasis on real ingredients and real food. Today we went a bit further, offering wholesome options as people nowadays have different food preferences.” Expect dairy free chia seed morning pudding, paleo muffins, homemade nut butters, Kitsch kale salad and gluten free granola. “Our cupcakes are going nowhere!” adds Dogmoch Soubra. Find them on Jumeriah Beach Road, in Abu Dhabi, and DIFC.
ZayZafoon opens at Bawabat Al Sharq Mall
The mall in Abu Dhabi is getting a restaurant and lounge concept next week with this modern Arabic outlet serving food from Egypt and the Levant. They plan to have live shows and music, BBQ and grill nights and ladies nights in the coming months. Find it on level one via the food court main entrance.
Thai Chi launches new menu
If the sounds of modern Thai fusion dishes such as slow braised lamb shank in aromatic massaman curry grabs you, head to Thai Chi at Wafi, where the menu had a revamp last week. 20 new items have been added to the classic Thai dishes (they promise the popular ones have not been changed). It’s the work of Thai chef Nita Fhaichowna. There’s also a focus on giving diners lighter options, such as — yum — grilled river prawns with hot basil sauce, and Laab Pla Salmon, a Thai version of ceviche made with organic salmon in a spicy lime dressing. The chef’s favourite is the warm banana cake with coconut milk and chocolate sorbet. Call 04-3244100.
