‘It was about the risotto I served. It was praised, let’s just say, by someone from a very well-known, high-profile sports-car-producing family from Italy. The gentlemen made a point of coming up to me and said it could not have been bettered, even in Italy’ – Guenter Geiger, executive chef at The Meydan Hotel, on the best compliment he has received during the Dubai World Cup
On chef guenter geiger’s menu
Baked foie gras with grape and balsamic jelly; chicken roulade with artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes; mahallebi kamardin – saffron milk pudding with rose water; Sicilian aubergine caponata with buratta and fresh fig. Should you want dishes to be made from soya, goat or camel milk, the chef’s kitchen can accommodate
The favourites
Main attraction: Arabian biryani with freshly baked local-style bread
Dreamy dessert: Sticky toffee pudding with Medjool dates, nuts and praline sauce
Most expensive ingredient:
Iranian hand-picked saffron
Best local fare:
Organic lamb from a specialised farm
Chef’s favourite dish:
Roast guinea fowl with soy pineapple glaze
rduane@thenational.ae