To scoff…
Bloomsbury’s’ key lime pie cupcake: You can barely move in this city at the moment without something spongy, buttercream-y and sprinkle-topped being shoved under your nose. And while Abu Dhabi’s cupcake craze shows no signs of slowing, it’s good to see that some cafés out there are at least making an attempt to go against the grain. Hailing from Bloomsbury’s’ first UAE outlet (since arriving in June they’ve also set up shop in Mushrif Mall), this is an adult’s cupcake. Instead of icing, it’s topped with peaks of soft, toasty meringue, while down below the rich, moist sponge is in a different league to that of the city’s other more kid-centric offerings, and the heart of lime-flavoured custard makes this cake so good, it should probably be illegal.
Dhs12. Al Wahda Mall (02 443 7070).
Café Columbia’s white chocolate cheesecake: Since it was added to the menu of Beach Rotana’s cosy lobby café earlier this year, this little guy has caused quite a storm among Abu Dhabi’s cake-loving community. Essentially, it’s just a vanilla cheesecake. But, sandwiched between two slabs of white chocolate and topped with a dusting of white chocolate shavings, it’s elevated to levels of lip-smacking decadence that puts all other cheese-based confectionary to shame. We’ve heard rumours that die-hard fans have even tracked down the chef to congratulate him on what they’re gushingly naming the ‘best cake ever’. Best get down there and see what all the fuss is about before they snaffle the lot.
Dhs21. Beach Rotana (02 697 9000).
Atayeb’s date pudding: Ah, the humble date cake. So simple, so ubiquitous, yet so often dealt with so very, very badly. Fortunately, not by the pastry chef at The Yas Hotel’s flagship Middle Eastern diner (flip to page 33 for our latest review of the place), whose small but pleasing portion packs in plenty of rich, sticky fruit, with a sharp berry compote and smooth vanilla ice cream on board to make sure you get plenty of variety for your money. It’s not often we’d walk into a restaurant and demand to immediately skip to dessert, but this is one sweet thing we’d happily suffer those judgemental looks for – again and again.
Dhs38. The Yas Hotel (02 656 0760).
Mugg & Bean’s carrot cake: When, as youngsters, we repeatedly refused to eat our mum’s boiled carrots, it wasn’t out of pure, impetuous stubbornness – we simply knew that those starchy orange sticks had much greater potential. Lo and behold, we were completely right, and this sinful slice of magic is solid gold evidence. Eschewing the tooth-rotting sweetness that Mugg & Bean’s cakes have become known for, this is a more mellow slice of fun, packing in plenty of that savoury, wholesome carrot flavour. That said, a thick layer of frosting means it’s one to avoid if you’re counting the calories, but for everyone else, it’s the ultimate accompaniment to your late afternoon latte.
Dhs20. Abu Dhabi Mall (02 645 4232).
Sugar Daddy’s’ pink velvet cake: The best things in life are worth waiting for, and that includes this fruity, creamy concoction. You’ll have to order a day in advance (so that management can summon their magical cake-making pixies, presumably) but the result is a work of beautifully sweet art, with a perfectly smooth layer of strawberry-topped frosting giving way to a soft, spongy centre. What makes it truly special, though, is the addition of fresh summer berries in the batter, meaning not only is each mouthful of moist sponge slightly different from the last, but you can also claim that it’s vaguely healthy, too.
Dhs125 for a six-inch cake. Khalidiyah Mall (056 767 9357).
Bord Eau’s melting chocolate cake: When chocolate’s on the agenda, it’s best to keep things simple and, thankfully, Bord Eau’s signature dessert does exactly that. Some might argue that it’s more of a soufflé than a cake, but we’re not about to squabble over semantics – this is as heavenly a pot of brown, gooey goodness as we’ve ever encountered. It’s all down to that semi-liquid centre, which, from the very first plunge, coats your spoon in a rich, warm layer of the highest-quality dark chocolate. We’ve seen people cleaning the corners of the serving dish out with their fingers, and we’re not ashamed to say that we’ve done the same ourselves.
Dhs35. Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri (02 509 8888).
To share…
Got a lot of faces to feed? What you need is an occasion cake with wow-factor.
Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel: Novelty creations are all well and good, but if it’s taste buds you’re looking to please, AFOCH’s surprisingly cheap made-to-order creations are the way to go. Their Dhs95 Ivory Delight – a layered sponge cake filled with chunks of fruit and topped with curls of white chocolate – is a nailed-on hit.
AFOCH (02 441 5900).
ChoCo’a: As well as a fine selection of high-end chocolates, here’s where you can also order a bespoke cake to pretty much any specification you can dream of. Examples on their website include everything from football shirts to designer handbags, all painstakingly crafted from sponge and icing.
Marina Plaza Tower, Muroor Road (02 628 9939).
Baskin-Robbins: When a normal, bog-standard, solid-at-room-temperature cake won’t do, it’s time to indulge in some serious frozen fun. Serving anywhere between four and 10 people, BR’s ice cream cakes come in a range of shapes, sizes and sicklynesses, with the chocolate-studded Oreo Cookie Cake a guaranteed winner.
Various locations.
Le Café at Emirates Palace: Given that their à la carte cakes come topped with gold leaf, it’s hardly surprising that the city’s swankiest hotel goes all-out with its bespoke celebration cakes. We’ve seen them shaped like handbags and jewellery cases, but their master pastry chefs will happily bake you something in any shape you please – for a price.
Emirates Palace (02 690 7999).
