Imagine eating your way through Japan, London, Lebanon, France and then some…all in one night. Jumeirah is taking diners around the world in 180 minutes with a hot new dining concept.
The idea seems so obvious: one course per restaurant in one five-star hotel. You might now be asking, ‘Why don’t more hotels do this?’ So did we.
The Jumeirah at Etihad Towers’ Epicurean Escapades showcases six of Jumeirah outlets in one evening.
It’s a relatively simple concept: the idea is that diners are exposed to a variety of outlets in the hotel and get to sample the cuisines of each restaurant – one course in each of five restaurants, plus after dinner drinks at the bar to round it all off.
At the start of the evening, diners are offered a set menu with a choice of three dishes per restaurant to pick from. Five courses plus drinks does sound like a lot, but the food and beverage team at Jumeirah have carefully constructed the portion sizes to ensure no one is overeating to the point of discomfort.
What is not so simple for the people backstage is the coordination of the night: in particular, ensuring the best order of venues – logistically and culinarily. Executive chef at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Chef Loughlin Druhan, explains the thought behind the concept. ‘We understand that choosing a restaurant for a special occasion or evening out can be difficult and, despite every good intention to try a new restaurant, there can sometimes be a tendency to stick with the tried-and-trusted familiar places. With the Epicurean Escapades, guests have the peace of mind of knowing what to expect at their favourite Jumeirah at Etihad Towers outlet, but they are then taken on a guided journey through our other outlets, so they can really get a taste of what each restaurant has to offer – both gastronomically and in terms of ambience.’
Careful consideration has gone into each dish. Chef Loughlin says, ‘Many trials and tastings were conducted to perfect the menu – not only in terms of portion sizing, but also cuisine combinations. Additionally, various dietary considerations also have to be taken into account and catered for.
It wasn’t easy to do this. Perfecting a stripped-down menu in one restaurant can be hard enough. Trying to create the same across five restaurants is quite a challenge. Nevertheless, our food and beverage teams thrive on these creative challenges and really put their hearts and souls into this project.’
The curtains open for the first act at the British seafood destination Scott’s. The nautical theme is strong, and it’s the perfect destination to kick off the evening. The appetiser is a seafood dish – what else?
While there is a selection of dishes on the menu, the restaurants also happily cater to specific dietary requirements, including vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Diners are then escorted by a special Scott’s staff member – either the manager or assistant manager – to the next destination, Li Beirut. This has won Time Out Abu Dhabi’s best Mena restaurant for the past two years, so you get to sample the best Lebanese food in the capital.
Next it’s out through the lobby and into Tori No Su for a taste of Japan with sushi, salad and sashimi options all available.
The mains are then served in Brasserie Angélique – arguably one of the most beautifully designed restaurants in Abu Dhabi. The restaurant is a testament to French fine dining, with a 1920s feel.
Where else to dish out dessert but Quest? This restaurant, on the 63rd floor of the hotel, likes to play with its food: here, the dishes are never quite what they seem.
The three options on the menu are a ‘tofu cheesecake’, ‘the mandarin’ or ‘cinequest’. For the mandarin, the fruit is hollowed out and soaked for several hours, then served with sorbet, curd and crumble. The cinequest is a cinema-inspired culinary creation, and includes ‘fruit nachos’ and buttery flavoured ice cream in the shape of popcorn.
Diners are then taken down to Ray’s Bar on the 62nd floor where they can enjoy a drink while soaking in the ambience and more spectacular views.
Chef Loughlin says the restaurants were selected in that order for many reasons: ‘Much deliberation and testing has gone into the concept.
The six venues were chosen based on a number of criteria, including each restaurant’s culinary strengths, and how well each cuisine lends itself to a particular course. The location of each venue was also taken into account, so that the physical “journey” to each outlet makes logistical sense and is seamless.
‘In the end we came up with Scott’s and its terrace over the Arabian Gulf provides a spectacular setting to commence the evening, with aperitifs and light seafood starters to give a good sense of the place. From the glamour of a British restaurant icon we move to Li Beirut and modern takes on Middle Eastern flavours. This is followed by a trip to Tori No Su and quintessential Japanese cuisine, providing a pre-main dish in the tradition of kaiseki cuisine. From Japan we then move to Brasserie Angélique for classic French fare for mains, before heading to the top of the hotel at level 63 for inspirational and quirky desserts from the kitchen of Quest. Finally, no evening at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers should end without a visit to the popular Ray’s Bar, and so the journey ends on level 62 with digestifs.’
There’s a little bit of walking involved, but it’s a truly spectacular way to sample the best of Jumeirah’s culinary talents. The meal will have you feeling happy and full without those all-too-familiar uncomfortable side effects of overindulgence.
From Dhs850 per person, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Ras Al Akhdar, www.jumeirah.com (02 811 5666).
The menu
Scott’s
Aperitif and appetisers
Li Beirut:
Lebanese first course
Selection of mezzah
Hummus, balik salmon, muhammara, fattoush basket
Basturma and beetroot
Honey mustard dressing, girgir leaves, baladi cheese and walnuts
Foie gras kebbeh
Walnut chutney, caramelisedhoney pear
Tori No Su:
Japanese second course
Kani salad with apple-ginger dressing
Asian mixed leaves, king crab meat
Nasu gyuniku roll
Beef, aubergine, goma sauce
Sushi and sashimi
Sashimi (toro, salmon, ika, suzuki)
Nigiri (tuna, hotate)
Unagi maki
Brasserie Angélique:
French main course
USDA prime tenderloin
Truffle mash, rocket salad, béarnaise sauce
Sous-vide-cooked
Soulard duck breast
Carrot emulsion, morel mushrooms, parsnip fondant, puy lentils, sauce aigre douce
Whole sea breambaked in salt crust
Braised endive, cardamom wild rice, lemon butter sauce
Quest: Dessert
‘Tofu’ cheesecake
Yoghurt ice cream
The mandarin
Sorbet, curd, crumble
Cinequest
Nachos, popcorn
Ray’s Bar
Digestifs
DIY progressive dinner
Create your own restaurant crawl
The Souk Qaryat Al Beri
Why not start your evening for an aperitif in Sho Cho, before devouring a delicious selection of appetisers in Ushna. Then take yourself to The Meat Co. for a hearty main and finish your evening in Abdel Waheb for dessert, then Left Bank for after-dinner drinks.
www.soukqaryatalberi.com
Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi
With the amount of exceptional fine dining available in the Ritz-Carlton, it’s easy to enjoy a progression of sorts. Begin at Li Jiang where some dim sum would be on the cards, then head to Mijana for mezze before working through The Forge for mains and finishing in the dessert café Dolce, before relaxing in Sorso with a glass of grape.
Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal, Khor Al Maqta’a (02 818 8282).
Beach Rotana
Begin in Indigo for a selection of Indian appetisers, and then into Benihana for a spot of teppanyaki. Feast on a steak at the never-failing Rodeo Grill for the main course. For dessert, Prego’s is the place to go. Profiteroles or tiramisu, it’s a temptation that is well worth succumbing to. Finally, head to Trader Vic’s for a digestif in the funky bar and enjoy the sounds of the resident band, Son A La Roca.
Al Zahiyah, (02 697 9000).
