Crazy-sounding dessert of the month

It’s been a while since a sweet so outrageous crossed the tabloid! food desk that we couldn’t help but write about it, but it’s happened, thanks to Pantry Cafe and its new summer breakfasts. So, yes, technically not dessert — but a sweet treat all the same. It’s the New Yorker PBJ doughnut waffle:

The waffle made out of doughnut batter, served with peanut butter ice-cream, Valrhona chocolate sauce and a side of jam, because, why not. It’s only available until the end of the month. Outlets are in Bay Square, Business Bay; and Wasl Square.

Unlimited chilli crab for brunch? We know where

The Grand Hyatt’s Singaporean restaurant — one of the only places serving authentic chilli crab in Dubai — is joining up with the hotel’s Japanese restaurant Sushi (another super-authentic gem; go for the ramen, one of Dubai’s best) for the Makan-San brunch starting on September 4. It will serve highlights of South East Asian and Japanese dishes — think oysters, Singapore duck, sushi and sashimi and live stations with gado-gado, laksa noodle and popiah in both restaurants.

Oh — and the aforementioned unlimited servings of chilli mud crab. It’s every Friday from 12.30-4pm, from Dh249-349 per person (Dh100 per child aged between six and 12 including soft drinks. Children below six dine for free); call 04-3172222. 

Three more new brunches to try

El Sur has launched Siesta Fiesta, a later brunch for those who can’t move that early on a Friday, starting at 1.30pm and running until 4.30pm with unlimited Spanish beverages and a choice of six tapas from a selection of 14, plus two dessserts, from Dh295. The Saturday family version has a colouring competition for the kids.

At La Residence, next to Raffles Dubai, the Lumiere Saturday brunch is a mix of St Tropez and Paris, leading into an afternoon party atmosphere; the sharing dishes include duck foie gras, truffled scrambled eggs, milk-fed lamb with citrus fruit and French toast brioche. It starts August 15, noon-4pm, Dh300-450. Call 04-3962211.

Over at Media One Hotel, the new Crab Tavern restaurant is wasting no time in getting brunch going, with an ’80s and ’90s vibe, sharing starter and dessert platters, a la carte main courses and then Crabby Hour happy hour, with Dh25 selected drinks from 5-8pm. Dh250-395; call 04-4207489.

Jazz@PizzaExpress opens in Abu Dhabi

The capital now has its own Jazz@PizzaExpress, at The Mall at World Trade Centre. It’s actually the first outlet for the popular pizza chain in the capital, and once it gets the paperwork signed off, will be licensed and have nightly live music from resident band Uptown, as well as other events. It’s also the first of five new outlets to open in the dining precinct on the upper floors of the mall. Call 02-3247324. 

Have breakfast in Morocco

Or at least its UAE equivalent, Almaz by Momo. The three outlets in the country (Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates and The Beach and Galleria Mall in Abu Dhabi) are now serving a breakfast menu.

Items include Tchakchouka Merguez (eggs with spicy sausages — just the thing to rev up those needing an extra kick in the morning) as well as fatet laban, halloumi with meat, hummus balila, berber pancakes and foul. They also serve European breakfast items such as croissants, French toast, fruit salad and eggs. 

Japanese curry? It’s at Chez Sushi

The menu at the custom-made sushi chain (from the people behind Sho Cho) has expanded to include some hot dishes — and by that we don’t really mean spicy. Japanese curry is a delicious, comforting dish that shares some of the spices but not much of the heat of Indian curry.

You can have the thick curry sauce simply with vegetables and rice (Dh48), or with additional grilled or fried chicken (known as katsu curry, and the best version there is, in our opinion, for Dh55-58). Outlets are in Wasl Square (Al Wasl Road), Dubai Marina, Bay Square (Business Bay) and Arabian Ranches, open noon-midnight; call 800-78744. 

Savarin desserts at Freedom Pizza

The dessert you have with your take-out pizza doesn’t have to be a tub of ice cream (although by all means, enjoy one). Freedom Pizza (from the people who used to be NKD Pizza) have teamed up with Savarin, a new gourmet dessert company. Savarin has an interesting lineage: Jan Bijsterbosch is a former senior vice president of Emirates Inflight Catering, and Rehan Samee is a former investment banker. (Hey, anyone can have a sweet tooth, right?)

Dessert options include free lime pie, tiramisu, hazey mango verrine, hokey pokey and a flourless, raspberry chocolate slice. They tell us they don’t use artificial flavourings or preservatives. Order online at freedompizza.ae; they are due to open in Abu Dhabi soon, by the way.