Louvre Abu Dhabi: First Looks.
As a former resident of Saadiyat Island, I have long been looking forward to the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi. In my initial commute to work, I crossed the bridge every day and would peer to my right to see the progress of the one of a kind museum. After moving to Dubai, for trips to review restaurants in Abu Dhabi I would more often than not choose to approach via Yas/Saadiyat just so I could get a glimpse. I also loved the commitment to art on the island and spent many a Friday or Saturday morning browsing Manarat Al Saadiyat, a small gallery with creative and rotating installations. Of course, it’s been a few years since I visited the Louvre in Paris, but let me be the first to tell you that, while not identical, a sense of wonder has been transplanted to the capital city of the UAE. …
JW Steakhouse Abu Dhabi: An unexpected Chef’s Menu.
I got a bit of a sneak preview of JW Steakhouse when I filmed a recent episode of What’s Cooking UAE earlier in the year (you can see the whole thing here, should you be interested). At that time, I met Chef Stephan, one of the more dedicated and enthusiastic chefs in the country. He showed me a brief preview of the Chef’s Menu, which had me thoroughly impressed (and I hadn’t even had a bite!). Although I intended to return in September, life got in the way, so for early November, I was happy to be invited back to the restaurant. For those who have not visited previously, JW Steakhouse is the premium dining outlet at the Marriott Downtown Abu Dhabi, located on the first floor of the hotel. While the primary focus of the venue is, of course, steak, I jumped at the chance to review one of…
99 Sushi (and a sake ain’t one).
That pun makes no sense. My love of sushi is a deep one, and nary a week goes by that I don’t consume raw fish in some capacity. Thus, when a restaurant like 99 Sushi Bar announced it was opening its doors in Abu Dhabi, I immediately reached out for a review and was delighted to obtain an invitation. Although it seems to confuse some of the PR in the country, as I live in Dubai (not Abu Dhabi), I have to nearly constantly reorientate myself whenever visiting the Galleria. Passing the almost opened Le Petit Maison (!), with nary any signage to designate the direction I needed to follow (a problem that I find is persistent for those who are not frequent visitors to Al Maryah island), I had to reach out to my friend to ask, ‘Where exactly am I supposed to go?’ For those not aware, 99 Sushi…
Toro Toro Abu Dhabi: Olé!
Certain properties come with specific expectations, don’t they? With Chef Richard Sandoval behind a brand that is already well established in the region, including restaurants in both Doha and Dubai, I was excited to visit the recently opened Toro Toro in Abu Dhabi (as the Abu Dhabi branch lacks a website, I’ll link to the Dubai venue, just for reference). Having missed the epic launch party the week before (many a hangover was witnessed on my Instagram feed the following day), my guest and I traipsed awkwardly through the pool deck area of Etihad Towers to reach the entrance (O signage, where art thou?). Apparently, there is an additional route by the Aston Martin showroom that we both missed, and I would encourage you to find the correct approach, rather than dodge wet towels and sun loungers. On arrival, we are greeted by two giant white bulls…and a number of…
What’s Cooking UAE: Delecto.
Thought you might enjoy viewing one of my episodes with What’s Cooking, UAE. Feel free to visit their YouTube channel to enjoy other episodes. Are there any venues you think we should visit next?
An evening with Chef Carlos Gaytan at Emirates Palace.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock in 2017 (and for that, well, maybe I can’t blame you, given the current state of the world), you’ll know that Emirates Palace has played host to a number of globally renowned chefs throughout the year. I’ve been lucky enough to visit for both Yde Andersen, and Norbert Niederkofler turns in the kitchen and was delighted to return to meet Chef Carlos on Sunday evening. A bit more about Chef Carlos: Carlos Gaytan is an inspiring success working his way up through the ranks of Chicago scene over the last two decades from dishwasher and pantry cook to Michelin starred restaurateur. His restaurant Mexique presents the bold flavours of his native Mexico prepared with the finesse characteristic of his French training. “I love traditional Mexican cuisine, but there’s always room for improvement,” says Gaytan. In his improbable Mexican-French melding, Gaytan pairs a traditional…
Marriott Al Forsan, not quite perfection in Khalifa City.
We’ve probably already established I am a creature of habit, and as such, my time in Abu Dhabi is primarily focused on Saadiyat or the main island. Thus, when an opportunity to explore a bit more of my former city, my interest was piqued. For the record, the Marriott Al Forsan, located in Khalifa City, is not in a location I would usually seek out. I prefer staying on island for proximity to restaurants and other things to do in the capital. Fortunately, it didn’t take much to win me over — the hotel has a lot of great things to offer. Pros A modern, new property. If you’re looking for a hotel that still has all its polish and shine, then the Marriott, opened recently, should be your destination. With a huge ‘wow’ factor in the overlarge lobby and rooms designed with essential components, the hotel plays to the roots and…
The Grill, Marriott Al Forsan: Protein paradise.
Looking forward to dining with Abu Dhabi friends we hadn’t seen in far too long, anticipation was high for our meal at The Grill. The restaurant — like the majority of the venues at the Marriott Al Forsan — is located on the main floor, to the left of the lobby after the entrance. On arrival, I found the layout spacious and was happy to see modern touches in the form of an open kitchen, private dining room, soaring ceilings, and kitschy black and white photography on the walls. We were greeted warmly and shown to a table overlooking the kitchen, which, turns out quite a bit of protein — including one of the largest cuts in the UAE, the 1200g Tomahawk Chop (priced at a competitive AED475). Guests are invited to view the large grill, should they want to see how their meat is doing. To start, a beautiful,…
What’s Cooking UAE: Catch.
Had a blast filming my first episode of What’s Cooking, UAE? at Catch this week, and I thought I would share some of the behind the scenes action with you. A fully edited episode full of recipes and other highlights will air later in the year (September or October), but until then, please enjoy our Facebook Live.