Some of my favorite meals have been in museums.\u00a0 There’s something satisfying about viewing priceless art and then having a long conversation about everything you just saw with a pleasant bite to eat and putting your feet up for a rest\u00a0and then heading back to your car and driving to Dubai<\/del>.\u00a0 I’ve already shared some of my love of the Louvre Abu Dhabi<\/a>, and recently I was fortunate to visit the attached cafe.\u00a0 While you do have to be a guest of the Louvre<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(tickets\u00a0are only AED60), the team is working to make the restaurant available without the cost of admission (I think this would be a mostly utilized option for Saadiyat residents).\u00a0 However, the museum has plenty to offer, so if you’re already there, why not make the most out of your visit?\u00a0 The cafe is located towards the back of the museum complex, with plenty of natural light and unique views of the capital.\u00a0 In colder months, sitting outside on the water would be an exceptional way to finish your visit.<\/p>\n

For those in the know, you’ll remember I am a big fan of Chef Roudy’s work (here’s my review of Catch<\/a> and my episode from What’s Cooking UAE<\/a>), and he’s brought some of his beautiful plating over to the museum.\u00a0 As one might expect, the menu is set up with international selections for everyone.\u00a0 There are smaller bites and more substantial offerings, with some grab and go options as well.\u00a0 I take the recommendation of the chef and start with Watermelon and Feta salad <\/em>(sorry\u00a0gang, I didn’t get the exact prices).\u00a0 It does get quite warm in the UAE and this mixture is the perfect answer to that heat.\u00a0 Sweet, refreshing and not without a bit of its own heat, this dish is one I would order again.\u00a0 Watermelon and feta are a match made in heaven for a reason, and props to the kitchen for some excellent knife work here.\u00a0 \u00a0Although I appreciated the starter on my own, I think the maximum number of people who can enjoy is two.\u00a0 Would two more watermelon cubes go amiss here?\u00a0 No.\u00a0 Is that my decision to make?\u00a0 No!<\/p>\n

Craving something smaller (I was coming off a filling meal at Bord Eau<\/a> the night before), the Camel Sliders<\/em> captured my interest for the next course.\u00a0 With portion sizes that should tempt anyone to try this protein for the first time, the combination of aioli, a toasted bun, and some added sweetness in the form of pomegranate seeds, I would also be happy to order this again.\u00a0 While a little messy, having camel on the menu makes sense and would be something exciting for out of town guests to try.<\/p>\n

And finally, to finish out the meal, the Profiteroles<\/em> were recommended and a sweet way to end my experience.\u00a0 With a bit of finesse and a pour of chocolate sauce, these quintessentially French pastries are also a welcome addition to the menu.\u00a0 I would recommend ordering a plate to split (rather than attempting to finish it by ones self).<\/p>\n

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Mo better with feta. Keen eyes will note @peteroudy\u2019s beautiful presentation style at the @louvreabudhabi cafe. I loved the dynamic blend of fresh, sweet and just a bit of heat.<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Courtney Brandt<\/a> (@atozaatar) on Dec 23, 2017 at 7:41pm PST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n