People often talk about being a “jack of all trades but master of none” as if it’s a bad thing.
And for this reason, all-day dining eateries sometimes get a raw deal as diners head for specialist restaurants instead, increasingly so when it comes to brunch.
But we would like to present international buffet restaurant Ingredients, in the Eastern Mangroves Hotel by Anantara, as evidence you can have it all – and it can all be delicious.
If you head down to their Friday brunch and don’t stumble across at least ten mouth-watering dishes that you’d go back for time and again, you might need new taste buds.
A whole host of live cooking stations are waiting for you, from sushi, pasta and roast beef to international cheeses, breads and some Arabic salads.
There are also a few you aren’t likely to find in other brunches, including a delightful tempura station and a Pad Thai zone.
The vast array of dishes and cuisines is impressive in itself, but when we start to tuck in, we are chuffed to find that substance has not been sacrificed for style.
A special shout-out goes to the melt-in-the-mouth barbecue chicken drumsticks served in a gorgeous creamy spinach sauce.
Honourable mentions also go the delightful garlic yarg cheese, the crispy, yet light prawn tempura and the amazingly succulent roast beef with roasted root vegetables.
If they don’t sound like they’re for you, tuck into the Thai green chicken curry, peri peri shrimp or one of the gorgeous selection of grilled meat skewers.
You’ll enjoy this surprisingly luxurious feast as a DJ provides a backdrop of chart hits and retro classics to give this brunch a good balance between family friendly and Friday afternoon chill.
When you’re done with the savoury delights, you have what we reckon is probably one of the biggest and most delicious selections of desserts you’ll find at any brunch here in the capital. From hand-crafted chocolates and a fondu station to individual sweets, such as an incredible mango cheesecake and a raspberry parfait, this is a dream world for those with a sweet tooth.
It’s hard to find any negatives about this brunch, except for the fact they charge extra for sparkling water for some reason. Come on Anantara, when people are spending at least Dhs220 we’re sure you can throw in some fizzy water. However, it’s a minor niggle when this feast goes to show there’s nothing wrong with expanding your horizons.
Dhs220 (soft drinks), Dhs310 (house beverages), Dhs390 (sparkling), Dhs480 (bubbly). 12.30pm-4pm. Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara, Al Salam Street (02 656 1166).
The bottom line
You can’t go wrong at this brunch.
