TASTING MENU EXPERIENCES TASTING MENU EXPERIENCES

Ossiano

Ossiano feels like an underwater kingdom, with its sparkling chandeliers, royal blue carpet and white marble tables that look like shimmering pearls against the backdrop of The Lagoon, Atlantis The Palm’s looming aquarium. Tables are carefully arranged to ensure every table gets a front row seat to the 65,000 marine life swimming by. Everything about the design of the dishes, to the symbolic plates they’re presented on, to the way the staff recite chef Gregoire’s story with impeccable finesse, is expertly curated, and with each course you learn more and more about the mastery that goes into this 10-wave menu. It can be paired with alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks.

PRICE: From Dhs1,150 atlantis.com

Avatara

From the same family as Trèsind Studio comes Avatara, which replaced the aforementioned restaurant in Voco Hotel Sheikh Zayed Road. The first and only entirely vegetarian fine dining experience in Dubai, Avatara’s menu makes a case for the simple goodness of veggies. With a focus on Indian soul food, Avatara hopes to challenge preconceived limitations of a vegetarian diet with its colourful, 16-course tasting menu. Along with their veggie menu, they also have a completely vegan menu that adopts the same mantra. Both can be enjoyed with a wine pairing.

PRICE: From Dhs450 avatara.ae

Trèsind Studio

After a successful run at Voco Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, Trèsind Studio moved to the rooftop of Nakheel Mall last year. The resulting venue is one of understated elegance: an open kitchen, floor-to-ceiling windows, and white table clothed tables with seating for just 20. The new venue also seats just 20 people per seating, with an option of two seatings per night. Simply put, it’s minimal, purposefully done, we presume, so that your focus and attention remain on the intricately prepared dishes presented. This degustation menu of 16 courses, is a presentation of humble Indian ingredients elevated to an outstanding level.

PRICE: From Dhs850 tresindstudio.com

Hōseki

Just nine seats make up the dining room at Hōseki, a speciality Omakase restaurant inside Bvlgari Resort Dubai. The name itself, which means ‘gemstone’ in Japanese, is an indicator of what a true gem this experience is, where dining takes place at the counter with front row seats to all of the Omakase mastery. The restaurant rips up the rule book when it comes to the menu – in that there isn’t one. Instead, you’ll have dishes selected for you by chef Masahiro Sugiyama across a two-hour omakase experience. Your preferences will be considered, but from there, it’s all in the hands of this culinary creator, with the freshest and finest ingredients taking centre stage as you journey through each course. There’re no walk-ins, so you’ll need to book in advance for either lunch or dinner.

PRICE: From Dhs1,000 bulgarihotels.com

Takahisa

This sleek Japanese restaurant might not exclusively be dedicated to its tasting menu (an a la carte offering is available), but it deserves a mention because the trio of Omakase menus are what guests head here for. The sophisticated restaurant centres around a counter, where guests perch up ready to indulge in one of three Omakase menus: sushi, Wagyu, or the combination menu of both. Each round of the 10-course menu illustrates the quality of ingredients, all the finest calibre. If rich flavours are your forte, you’ll delight in the high-grade ingredients that make up this menu: such as slivers of bluefun tuna and Kobe beef.

PRICE: From Dhs1,800 takahisa.ae

Moonrise

From master chef Solemann Haddad comes Moonrise, an inventive culinary journey that showcases the chef’s life through food. The (currently) unlicensed restaurant on the rooftop of Eden House, a modest residential building near Satwa, presents a multi-course menu, with dishes changing every three months. Just a dozen guests can embark on this flavour flight at any one time, which is exactly how the chef wants it. In this, he ensures that every guest gets to soak in the narrative of each course, down to the most intricate ingredients. What makes Moonrise truly standout is the man behind the menu, and despite being just 27-years-old, chef Solemann Haddad has become one of Dubai’s most accoladed culinary creators.

PRICE: From Dhs650 moon-rise.xyz

Mimi Kakushi

Mimi Kakushi has a leaveit-to-the-chef omakase menu, which takes place on weekdays from 7pm to 9pm. Competition for a spot at the six-seater chef’s table is fierce but it is here that Chef Go Nagano serves up a creative Japanese tasting menu across four courses, including a selection of sushi, sashimi, appetisers, a hot main, and dessert. A different kind of dinner and a show – guests surrounding the kitchen can watch a magnificent cooking performance. Mimi Kakushi’s Omakase experience is priced at Dhs1,100 per person inclusive of four courses and premium cocktail pairing.

@mimikakushi

Folly

Multi-award-winning Souk Madinat hotspot, Folly, has developed its tasting menu to reflect its culinary talents. Priced at Dhs475 for food only, and an additional Dhs445 with a wine pairing, it’s not as extravagantly priced as some of its competitors, and you won’t leave hungry either. Work your way through six tasty courses with a chance to broaden your palate and expectations (pigeon, anyone?).

@follydubai

Al Muntaha

Burj Al Arab’s fine dining French restaurant, Al Muntaha, has a degustation menu for those who enjoy the finer ingredients in life. Starting with salmon trout, followed by “Roques-Hautes” asparagus, langoustine royale, guinea fowl “plin” ravioli with parmesan cream and Australian wagyu beef with potatoes and mushroom. The experience is priced at Dhs1,100 per person and a wine pairing will be another Dhs900. Expect world-class silver service and brilliant views of the Dubai skyline from the 27th floor of the ‘sevenstar’ hotel.

@almuntaha

Katsuya

A popular spot that’s had the HH Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai seal of approval, Katsuya’s omakase experience offers guests a special selection of dishes from the exclusive sushi counter. Take a seat and journey through Katsuya’s contemporary Japanese cuisine over eight courses whilst personally interacting with the chef. The menu is priced at Dhs1,285 and reservations must be made in advance.

@katsuyahydedubai

Stay by Yannick Alleno

In addition to its premium a la carte menu, One&Only The Palm’s Stay by Yannick Alleno has two set menus on offer: the four-course Emotion menu (Dhs750 or Dhs1,300 with wine pairing) or the six-course Experience menu (Dhs950 or Dhs1,750 with wine pairing). Emotion allows you to choose between dishes such as pan-fried foie gras or pike fish ‘brioche’, and local pan-fried red mullet or milk-fed lamb saddle; while Experience has pre-selected dishes including langoustines with vanilla, sea bass ‘aiguillettes’ and kiwami Australian wagyu beef and button mushroom mille-feuille. oneandonlyresorts.com

Tàn Chá

Chic Chinese restaurant, Tàn Chá, has a private 12-seater dining room where it hosts exclusive omakase experiences. Chef David Pang offers a sensorial menu of 18 exquisite tastes, said to ‘transport you from the bustling seafood markets of Hong Kong to the piquant delights of Sichuan province, Beijing’s richly rewarding Peking duck, and beyond’. The menu is priced at Dhs888 per person and includes Japanese A5 wagyu, Hokkaido scallops, jellyfish, lobster and French foie gras, with freshly shaved truffles. Gather a group of eight to 12 friends and prepare to treat your tastebuds to a journey around Asian cuisine.

tanchadubai.com

MAY 12 TO 21

WORDS: SHELBY GEE

Knock knock. Who’s there? Stand-up comedians taking over Dubai for 11 days of performances. Stand-up comedians taking over Dubai for 11 days of performances, who? Bet you’re glad we didn’t say orange. Oh wait, wrong punchline. Anyway, comedians headlining venues across Dubai will be able to deliver a joke far better than we can – at least, we can only hope.

Returning to the city once again this May is the Dubai Comedy Festival. Get your popcorn and tomatoes ready, no twitchy palms please and settle in for a comedic extravaganza. The main gigs will be taking place at top venues across Dubai, including Dubai Opera, Theatre at Mall of The Emirates, Coca-Cola Arena and many more. Tickets start from Dhs150, which is a steal if you love sidesplitting fun.

The line-up of funny people heading to Dubai makes for quite a well-rounded list of satirical, sharp-mouthed and charming performers who will be providing audiences with all the one-liners, and quick wit that they can manage. Here’s a look at who’s coming...

Sooshi Mango

May 12

The Australian comedy trio made up of Joe and Carlo Salanitri and Andrew Manfre will be heading to Dubai with their wildly successful Off the Boat tour. Their online videos have amassed hundreds of millions of views. The characters from their video skits have gone from their parent’s garage to TV screens across Australia and stages around the world and now on the stage at the Coca-Cola Arena on Friday May 12.

Atsuko Okatsuka, Beth Stelling, and Rachel Feinstein

May 15

There are never enough female comedians in the world of stand-up. These three ladies are making moves and are heading to Dubai on Monday May 15 for a night of belly-aching laughs. They take on real-life experiences with a hilarious twist that will be brought on by three different styles of humour.

Dara Ó Briain

May 15

The Irish are known for their yarn-spinning, wry wit, and prowess on the banterfield. Host of veteran panel show Mock the Week, countless specials, gigs and festivals –and just a genuinely hilarious human being – Dara Ó Briain, is the perfect ambassador for this. He’s heading to Dubai Opera on Monday May 15 for an evening of storytelling, oneliners and picking on the front row, as per any Dara Ó Briain show.

Jim Jefferies

May 17

One of the most popular comedians of his generation, Jim Jefferies garnered a legion of fans worldwide and has been honoured for his controversial comedic brilliance by winning the Stand-Up Comedian of the Year at the Just for Laughs Festival in 2019. If you’re still questioning if he’s worth the trip to Dubai Opera on Wednesday May 17, check out his comedy specials on Netflix – you won’t regret it.

My Therapist Ghosted Me

May 17

If you love a cheeky podcast, then these ladies need no introduction. The duo behind the award-winning show bring their hilarious and candid conversations to Dubai. Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally typically explore the depths of each other’s unique situations, providing unqualified and upfront advice to problems that even their therapists couldn’t handle.

Jimmy Carr

May 16

A man that needs no introduction to the British public, Jimmy Carr is known for his vulgarity and satire that makes for an evening of dangerously hilarious jokes. Not for the faint-hearted or easily offended, this show will be part of his Terribly Funny world tour. Carr performed a sold-out show in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, that left viewers with stomach muscles that 500 crunches couldn’t even compete with.

EAT // REVIEW

Words: Shelby Gee