An authentic Arabian Nights experience awaits you at Al Maha’s signature restaurant Al Diwaan. As the sun set on the horizon, my dining companion and I took our seats on the deck of the restaurant, from where we could watch the resort’s star attraction: sand gazelles. They grazed comfortably a few metres from our table and each time a bush rustled nearby we wondered if we might catch a glimpse of the Arabian red foxes, hares and fabled Ethiopian hedgehogs that are also thriving at Al Maha.
Acute attention had clearly been paid to preserving the resort’s ecosystem, but had equal attention had been paid to the fare for guests, we wondered?
All was in hand, we soon discovered. The starters of pan-fried scallops with mango-vanilla purée and poached-egg custard with asparagus, crispy crab and dill oil were beautifully presented and packed with flavour.
Up next, and the standout of the meal, was my guest’s main course of lamb shank, which had been braised for seven hours. It fell off the bone, melted in the mouth and lived up to every expectation of the simple but succulent classic. The lamb was served with a vanilla purée, rosemary jus and sautéed root vegetables.
My choice of lobster thermidor didn’t disappoint, either, and the creamy Hollandaise sauce and Parmesan crust was a delight. The side accompaniment was Pommery mustard tagliatelle, which didn’t overpower the delicate flavours of my pricey crustacean.
To round off the meal, my guest made short work of the chocolate chip and banana tart, playfully presented with dots of almond cream and chocolate sauce all over the plate, but its taste was very grown-up indeed. I had my sweet tooth sated with a fragrant Earl Grey panna cotta and cardamom-fig chutney. The desserts proved a great end to a meal using organic, local and sustainable produce wherever possible.
• A three-course evening meal at Al Diwaan, excluding drinks, costs Dh490 per person
rduane@thenational.ae
