The second annual Taste of Abu Dhabi festival kicked off yesterday to a hungry crowd at du Arena on Yas Island and there are plenty of bites on hand to satiate your appetite.
Crowds lined up to taste signature dishes from 25 of the capital’s best restaurants including BOA steakhouse, Avasa, Sho Cho, Atayeb, Nolu’s Cafe, Blue Grill, Prego’s, Villa Toscana, Caramel, Koi, Safina, Flooka, Teatro and more. Each restaurant had a handful of choices and, with so much food on offer, it was hard to choose what to spend your money on. After sampling 15 dishes last night — and consuming a weekend’s worth of calories in five hours — here is my roundup of the best bites of the festival.
Lobster lasagne at Carluccio’s. This was one of my favourites last year and it didn’t disappoint. This creamy pasta dish is packed with crab, shrimp, fish, lobster and has a tangy punch (from lemon oil, the chef told me) that keeps you coming back for more. People love this dish — and so do the visiting celebrity chefs. Notable British chefs Steven Edwards and Joshua Stanzl, owners of Etch Food, said this was their favourite dish at last year’s festival and they were looking forward to eating it again this year.
Veal belly bao at Teatro. Don’t miss this soft bun packed with a generous portion of grilled barbecue veal belly, topped with a slew of pickles. With perfectly tender, flavour-packed veal, this slider delivers and it’s priced right at just Dh20. Teatro’s chow mein is also worth a taste. It comes as a full portion of noodles packed with slices of duck and chunks of fresh lobster. Dh30
The rock shrimp tempura from Sho Cho is the fastest selling item at the festival. The lines were long and constant for this dish and you’ll have to wait a few minutes (at least) once you place your order. But that wait is worth it. This is one of Sho Cho’s signature items and one bite explains why. The extra crispy shrimp come with a moorish creamy chilli and garlic sauce. These might be the best excuse for breaking your diet. Dh30
For a twist on tiramisu, head over to Villa Toscana for the classic Italian dessert like you’ve never had it before. It comes as an ice lolly — with flavour-packed tiramisu ice cream and cocoa covered in dark chocolate — presented on your plate standing upside down. It’s a hit with both kids and adults. Dh15
Prego’s is serving up a generous portion of calamari fritti that should be on your list of things to try at the festival. The tender bits of squid are just the right amount of salty in a thin crispy batter. They’re served with a lemon and tartar dipping sauce. Dh20 *Note: I didn’t try it, but several visitors told me the Margherita pizza at Prego’s (Dh20) is delicious.
One of my favourite tastes of this year’s festival is the grilled Tangra prawns from Peppermill. These prawns are soaked in a ginger soy marinade and freshly grilled right in front of you. The chef told us the dish is influenced by the Chinese colony in Calcutta. The best part about these? You don’t need to worry about sharing them with your kids. These are rich and spicy — and may be too spicy even for some adults. Dh20. Also notable: Peppermill’s butter chicken in a creamy tomato gravy with raisin pulao (Dh30) and D.J.’s bun kebab (char grilled smoked leg of lamb packed in a bao bun with mint mayonnaise and masala potato, Dh20).
Another item not to miss: Caramel’s Kobe beef sliders. The secret to these impossible to resist sliders is in the soft brioche buns. While most buns are forgettable, Caramel’s homemade sweet buns add flavour to the burger and take it to another level. The Kobe beef patty is topped with aged cheddar cheese and balsamic onions, resulting in a flavour explosion for your mouth. You won’t be disappointed. Dh20
It is impossible to try food from each of the 25 restaurants and that’s the only real disappointment at this year’s festival. My best tip - make sure you walk around and check out your options first before you start eating.
*Taste of Abu Dhabi runs from noon to 11pm today and from noon to 10pm tomorrow. For a list of restaurants featured at the festival and a full schedule of events — including cookery classes and demonstrations with visiting celebrity chefs — visit www.tasteabudhabi.com.
