After Dark: The Desserts
Marco Pierre White
Chocolate mousse
Want a masterclass in mousse? Get yourself to Marco Pierre White, pronto. The dessert menu is impressive (we could write pages about the rhubarb and strawberry crumble) but the mousse is the one standout option you’ll be talking about, indeed, raving about, for weeks. It’s presented in a wide bottomed glass and covered in dollops of cream, with shards of white and milk chocolate arranged on top. It might seem a shame to spoil it by digging in, but do it anyway. The mousse is rich, smooth and creamy and peppered with the tiniest pieces of chewy meringue. The texture is dense and the flavour intense. Best of all, it’s a simply huge portion, but you still won’t want to share it.
Best for: The perfect end to a special dinner.
Dhs45. Marco Pierre White Steakhouse and Grill, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr (02 654 3333)
Bord Eau
Chocolate extravaganza
Brace yourself, people – this one is seriously naughty. A small fistful of chocolate mousse encased in a milky chocolate shell, topped with gold leaf and surrounded by a smattering of sticky berry syrup. Take a moment to gaze upon its understated beauty, because it won’t last long; within seconds of setting the plate down, the waiter empties a sizeable jug of hot chocolate sauce over it all, transforming the whole thing into a brown, molten sludge. From here, it’s a no holds-barred spoonfight with your partner to claim the lion’s share, inevitably soiling the tablecloth, your shirt and any passersby in the process. So, not the most elegant dessert, but, as intense chocolatey hits go, you’ll struggle to find a more decadent dish this side of Switzerland.
Best for: Abandoning your diet in style.
Dhs35/Dhs52. Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri (02 509 8888)
Rodeo Grill
Chocolate soufflé
Thirty long minutes. That’s an excruciating 1,800 seconds between telling the waiter at Rodeo Grill that you want, no, you need a serving of their chocolate soufflé, and it actually arriving at your dribble-soaked place mat. That’s a long time, but we promise, if you can stand it, it’s definitely worth the wait. Delicately dusted with icing sugar and chocolate sprinkles, the chewy shell gives way to moist, light cake. A modest scoop of vanilla ice cream sets off the soufflé’s warmth and richness to perfection, while a piece of pistachio biscotti gives the dish a nice, crunchy bite. You’ll end up scraping every last sliver off the plate.
Best for: Practising the art of self-control. And then completely blowing it.
Dhs42. Rodeo Grill, Beach Rotana, Tourist Club Area (02 697 9000)
Plain and Simple: The Chocolates
Rocky Mountain
Rocky Mountain almost always has some poor soul standing outside the shop with a tray full of samples. And that poor soul always has to contend with us trying to look casual as we walk past for the 10th time, trying not to make eye contact while we swipe another handful of their premium chocolates. We just can’t help it – their selection includes Belgian chocolate pralines, chocolate baklava, truffles and French wafers. Their novelty products are a big hit too – chocolate spoons make a quirky grown-up treat, because they’re designed to melt into your coffee as you use them. Not so great as stirring implements, but heck, who cares when they taste so delicious?
Best for: A pick-me-up when you’re shopping.
Souk at Central Market 02 639 8400)
The Chocolate Gallery
Some luxury chocolates taste as though they’ve been assembled by a team of magical elves, but you might be surprised to discover that there’s actually a far simpler process at work. Order a luxury hot chocolate or crêpe at this quaint little café, and, instead of flicking through the sports pages while you wait, you can sit and admire the delicate handiwork of the master chocolatiers (you’ll want to avoid tapping on the glass). It’s not just an empty gimmick, either – from pralines to truffles, the colourfully decorated chocolates taste every bit as good as they look. And though they’re certainly not cheap, you can rest assured your chosen recipient will appreciate the expense. And if that chosen recipient happens to be yourself, then so be it.
Best for: A glimpse behind the scenes.
Fairmont Bab al Bahr (02 654 3333)
Bateel
If you’re looking for chocolate, you’ve come to the right place. Wander into this brightly lit store and you’ll no doubt be tempted by the giant pyramids of sweet dates or the vast jars of caramelised nuts that fill the shelves. However, if it’s something even sweeter you have in mind, you can’t ignore the chocolates. The counter is packed with every design imaginable, from mushroom shapes to ears of corn (don’t worry, they aren’t representative of the fillings – we’ve checked), with dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolates sharing shelf-space with green, red and pink varieties, sugar-free options, wrapped chocolates, blends and soft centres. Fillings range from classic ganache to fruit, nuts or even jam and cream, and the taste is melt-in-the-mouth perfect. Best of all, you can try before you buy, with a few offerings lined up on the counter for you to sample. Once you taste them, though, there’s no going back. Don’t say we didn’t warn you…
Best for: A thoughtful gift (or a massive indulgence).
Abu Dhabi Mall, Tourist Club Area (02 635 4977)
Al Nassan camel milk chocolate
This might not be Belgium or Switzerland, but we’ll be darned if the UAE doesn’t have signature chocolates. Camel milk chocolate tastes – unsurprisingly – a lot like chocolate; but there are plenty of subtle differences that we took great pains (meaning we ate more chocolate than should be legal) to detect. It’s fuller, rounder and has a mild saltiness that quickly disappears, but then pops up as a moderately strong (and not unwelcome) aftertaste. The Al Nassma chocolates we devoured came with three fillings: hazelnut nougat, Arabic coffee cream and pistachio marzipan. All three were a hit – especially the pistachio, all trace of which disappeared in record time – but we found ourselves less interested in the taste and more interested in spotting the differences. This is a new type of chocolate after all, and drowning it in fillings – even phenomenal filling – seemed a shame. Next time we’re opting for the plain variety.
Dhs135. Available at Oasis Café, Emirates Palace Hotel, Café Arabia and Abu Dhabi Airport Duty Free
Have Yours: The Cakes
Mugg & Bean
Chocolate brownie pie
This popular café knows exactly why you’re stopping by – the cake counter is the first thing that greets you, before you’re even properly through the door, in fact. And once you’ve seen it, the pull is almost too much to resist. Press your face up against the glass and feast your eyes on the mammoth offerings of creamy cheesecake, and the towering crisp peaks of the lemon meringue pie, which are so tall they’re almost cartoonish. But if you’re in the mood for chocolate, you can’t go wrong with the chocolate brownie pie. Admittedly, it looks pretty humble when compared with its shelf-mates, but sink into Mugg & Beans battered leather sofas, order a slice and let it melt in your mouth. The gooey chocolate filling is intense and sticky enough to taste like cake batter, while the sweet shortbread crust is an indulgence in itself.
Best for: A decadent mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
Dhs20. Mugg & Bean, Abu Dhabi Mall, Tourist Club Area (02 645 4232)
Mirabel
Dark chocolate slice
Mirabel isn’t the first place you’d think of heading to make a pig of yourself over a piece of chocolate cake; it’s a smart spot better associated with light lunches, European breakfasts and huge smoothies. But it’s also home to one of the finest sweet treats in the city – the dark chocolate slice. This is deceptively diminutive, just an elegant rectangle of chocolate heaven on a miniature gold base, but rich enough to make you feel like you’ve eaten twice the amount. The icing layers are buttery, the sponge soft and moist and the light curls of bitter chocolate on top scream refinement rather than gluttony. It’s heavy enough to share between two, so stop in with a friend and order two coffees, two spoons and one dark chocolate cake – it’ll make your afternoon.
Best for: Maintaining an illusion of sophistication while you stuff it down.
Dhs20. Mirabel, Fotouh Al Khair Centre (02 631 5111)
Choco’a
Boutique chocolate cakes
Choco’a describes itself as a chocolate artisan, which seems a very serious name for what is really one of the most fun shops in the city. It sells very fancy arrangements of pre-wrapped chocolates for special occasions, as well as boutique chocolates from the enticing glass counters. Both kinds taste heavenly, but are still completely overshadowed by the culinary work of art that is the Choco’a chocolate cake. It consists of a fantastically dense, moist chocolate sponge divided by a central layer of creamy goo that really is the stuff dreams are made of. The chocolate cake is available in all sorts of wacky designs – think everything from sugary frog faces to Louis Vuitton frosting handbags.
Best for: Since you can personalise the cakes, they would make a great gift to cheer someone up.
Prices on request for speciality cakes. Choco’a, Marina Plaza Tower, Al Muroor Street (02 628 2411).
