Have you tried the new bento boxes at Asia de Cuba yet? If you haven’t, run, don’t walk, to get one.
The new offering in one of the capital’s most beautiful restaurant settings serves up four different options: the Cuban; the Surf; the Turf and the Veggie.
The Cuban (Dh65) is the smallest, served in a two compartment box, but it’s outstanding. This Cuban sandwich will be the closest thing you get to a proper Cuban on this side of the world (this, coming from a food writer who lived on Cuban food in Miami for more than five years before moving to the capital). It also comes with yuca chips and sweet potato hummus.
In the five-compartment Surf bento box (Dh95), you’ll get chilli-rubbed scallops; an icy hot shrimp salad; red snapper ceviche (to die for); edamame salad and coconut flan.
The Turf (Dh85) serves up Chino-Latino fried rice; spring rolls; roasted duck salad; plantain chips with avocado poblano sauce and coconut flan.
For vegetarians, the Veggie box (Dh75) offers sweet and sour tofu; black bean empanadas; mushroom ceviche; steamed edamame and coconut flan.
The generously portioned bento boxes are available Sunday through Thursday for lunch from noon to 3pm. For reservations, call 02 699 3333.
sjohnson@thenational.ae
