Joel Robuchon died in 2018, but UAE fans of the French chef, whose restaurants lay claim to the most Michelin stars in the world, can still get a taste of his culinary prowess.
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon opened its first Dubai outpost on October 6. To say this restaurant was highly anticipated is something of an understatement. L'Atelier operates venues in 12 cities around the world – Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York, Las Vegas and Montreal, to name a few – and the Dubai branch has been in the pipeline for the past decade.
The restaurant, located in the Dubai International Financial Centre, is dominated by the vast open kitchen that the brand is known for, allowing diners to watch their food being prepared and even chat to the chefs. Also present is L’Atelier's signature red and black colour scheme, complete with marble counters and stainless steel, creating an ambience that is bold yet intimate.
The space also features a rose petal ceiling artwork by Italian designer Jacopo Foggini, while an olive tree sculpture by French contemporary artist Philippe Pasqua takes pride of place at the entrance.
The expansive outdoor seating area is lined with bronze vines by Pasqua. Executive chef Axel Manes says it’s all in line with the restaurant’s philosophy of celebrating the hand-made. L’Atelier does translate to workshop, after all.
Manes is Robuchon’s protege. The two worked closely for years. “It was a shock to me that we could be so close. I think a lot of that was the difference in age – almost 55 years. He really believed in me, and gave me a lot of positivity.”
Much like his mentor, Manes has a few feathers in his chef’s cap; he was only 19 when a restaurant he was working for in Lyon was awarded a Michelin Star, and he was identified as one of the most promising chefs in the world by the Michelin Guide.
“The first L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon opened in 2003, and since then we've aimed for innovation. Not on the food, that's more or less the same. But in the restaurant, its modernity, the design, the requirements of clients,” says Manes. “The Dubai branch is a more casual space where guests can still expect fine-dining food.”
Under Manes’s mantle, the menu aims to be “a 2.0 version of Robuchon’s signature dishes” – such as the crispy poached egg with caviar, truffle pizza, dover sole a la plancha and the chef’s most popular dish, for its buttery texture and chestnut-like flavour, mashed potatoes. There will also be an epicurean 10-course menu, specially curated by Manes.
Robuchon, famously a perfectionist, would approve. The chef has left behind quite a legacy, from mentoring Gordon Ramsay and Michael Caines to being named Chef of the Century by French restaurant guide Gault Millau. And his establishments have racked up an impressive 32 Michelin stars between them.
“Joel used to say that the most important thing is to know your basics,” says Manes. “If you don’t know this, you will not be able to deliver quality year after year. This is why so many restaurants are not able to stand the test of time.”
With these lessons from Robuchon passed on to the rest of the team, Manes says that every branch around the world still feels the star chef’s presence.
“Joel is always in the kitchen. His spirit is with us every day. Everything, including the mashed potato, is still just the way he likes it.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal
Rating: 3.5/5
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra
Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
Rating: 4/5
