DUBAI: It's not often that I make the trek down to Palm Jumeirah. It's got to be something really worth my while to drag me to the opposite end of town. So naturally, Solis, a poolside restaurant in Palm Jumeirah, had a lot to live up to.
Sitting outdoors, with the early winter breeze blowing in and a glass of sparkling by our side, the idea didn't seem so bad after all.
The menu had me pleasantly surprised. This wasn't your average surf-and-turf menu. What I saw had the potential to turn my evening into a fine-dining experience, albeit a poolside one.
With my rediscovered love for goat's cheese, I couldn't resist the goat cheese and avocado crostini while my friend settled for smoked salmon cream fraiche rolls with a red pepper coulis. My crostini, at first bite, gave off a strong garlic kick, quickly washed down by the burst of sweetness from the tomatoes, and the smooth creaminess of avocado that lingered on the top of my palate. Crunchy and soft in equal doses, it was the perfect start to a perfect evening. Peeking into my partner's smoked salmon I was impressed, and perhaps even a tad jealous that those three mounds of bright orange salmon weren't mine to delve into. This European version of a Japanese dish came with avocado, alfalfa sprouts and lemon cream cheese neatly packaged into the smoked salmon.
However, before I could smack my lips in delight, our mains were placed before us. A tad too soon for my taste, but hey, I was reserving judgment till later. For now the aroma of steak had me distracted. My grilled salmon steak came with basil infused potatoes, steamed vegetables and a seductively exotic saffron cream sauce. My partner stuck to an earthy, traditional, meal of angus beef tenderloin, char-grilled to medium-rare with a stack of potatoes, steamed vegetables and thyme jus.
Again, afraid that we would be overwhelmed with dessert just seconds after wiping off our steaks, I asked the waiter to slow down the pace. Being eager to please is one thing, but over-eagerness never really did it for me.
With a satisfying 15 minutes between the end of our meal and the start of our sinfully sweet calorific desserts, I had the time to allow the culinary experience of the night to sink in. I had to admit, I'd been pleasantly surprised. The food was every bit as high-end gourmet as a decent five-star, but at half the price.
Dessert, when it arrived, was just the right quantity to cap off a heavy meal. My French Toast was unlike any I've ever made. A long slim slice of brioche loaf, dipped in a caramel cinnamon sauce before being lightly battered and fried, the toast was served with a side of vanilla bean ice-cream and red currants. It was simple, homemade French fare with a classy twist. My partner, a self-confessed chocoholic, ordered the only cacao dish on the menu: chocolate fondant with vanilla ice-cream, a cup-cake sized combination of steaming hot and freezing cold, the perfect ebony and ivory mix to wind up the evening.
