Taste of Spain in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI: The Rosewood brand of hotel is the latest addition to Abu Dhabi’s expanding hospitality sector. For you and me, it simply means the already ambitious list of ‘must eat’ restaurants in Abu Dhabi just got bigger.

Catalan, the Spain-inspired signature restaurant, is indeed a good place to begin as it truly embodies the Rosewood philosophy of intimate surroundings and personalised service.

Barcelona experience

Bringing an authentic Barcelona experience to your plate is two-Michelin starrer chef Antonio Saez who has put together the Catalan’s menu. He says he has flown down the best Catalonian olive oil and other traditional ingredients and mixed them with fresh local produce for his culinary creations.

Our prelude to the unique gourmet experience began with Cucumber ‘Gazpacho (soup)’ served with stuffed olives, codfish bunyuelos (fritters with cheese) and bread with tomatoes. The green chilled cucumber soup served in mini bottles placed in blocks of ice was as good a thirst quencher as it was an appetiser.

Escabeche of duck foie gras served with green asparagus, cabbage, spring onion cream and honey dressing was the next on our list.

Escabeche, I was told, is a typical Mediterranean method of slowly marinating meat or fish in an acidic mixtureg. To my surprise, the foie gras (fat liver) soaked in vinegar and garlic marinade was creamy soft and melted in my mouth with ease. The cabbage salad, spring onion cream and honey dressing were packed with flavours and gave the foie gras a tasty punch.

A set course meal is all about keeping the tastebuds alive and kicking even during the brief wait between the various courses. The home-baked black olive bread served with deliciously light olive oil did the job for us as we waited for the Mediterranean Sardines. They were marinated in sherry vinegar and served with fresh sofrito (aromatic Spanish sauce), beetroot cream and anchovy canapé. My companion commented the combination of sardines with beetroot cream and anchovy was quite brave and unique.

For me, the slow cooked organic eggs from the farm was the high point of the chef’s creativity. The egg slow-cooked for 30 minutes and served on a bed of potato cream still had a runny yoke with the white forming a jelly-like texture. With warm chick peas broth generously poured over the egg topped with wild mushrooms and thyme breadcrumbs, it got my vote as the most creative dish.

But the best was yet to come –the Catalan seafood paella served piping hot in the iron pan. The richly flavoured rice was well-cooked and the juicy morsels of prawns, cuttlefish and mussels tossed in made it a true seafood lover’s delight.

Mains done, it was time for dessert. The traditional apple tart topped with saffron Chantilly was as good as I expected. But my loyalty lies with the Lemon Peel Ice Cream served with tea gelatin and orange slush. It was a fitting end to glorious European fare.

DETAILS:

Meal for two: Dh700

Location: Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Sowwah square, Al Maryah Island

Timing: 7pm to midnight

Call: 02-813 5552