Fancy a culinary night out in Mayfair, but don’t quite have the time for a London jaunt? Have an urge to be served sushi by a leading Japanese chef, but Tokyo is out of your reach; or a desire to indulge in great French cuisine, but can’t down tools long enough for a dash to Paris?
Time-poor travellers and foodies can now take a fine-dining trip around the world in one evening without touching an airport. The Jumeirah at Etihad Towers hotel in Abu Dhabi is offering a progressive dinner that it calls Epicurean Escapades, which involves five of its eight restaurants. The experience launched in spring and I hesitated to book, thinking it might be slightly tacky and rushed, but it turns out to be quite the opposite; a relaxed and fun evening, and a great way to sample a variety of delicious food.
We start in the refined surroundings of Scott’s, the only other branch of the famous seafood restaurant outside Mayfair in London. The Abu Dhabi outlet is a futuristic white building with curved walls, constructed over the water. Our starter is fines de claires oysters from the Atlantic waters of western France. How they get them here and maintain their rock-pool freshness is a marvel of international-produce logistics.
Scott’s is also where we’re presented with the menu for the evening, so that we can choose our dishes in advance, which reduces the waiting time at each venue.
We’re a little worried about devouring five meals in one evening, but needn’t have been, for the portions are mercifully moderate.
With our orders placed and oysters consumed, the manager of Scott’s then chaperones us to our next destination, Li Beirut, which offers Lebanese delights such as foie gras kibbeh with almond purée and walnut chutney. Then it’s a breezy walk across the porte cochère to Tori No Su, a Japanese restaurant with illuminated marble, stone columns and designer lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The sushi and sashimi selection is the best bet, especially as we pair it with delicious shiso leaf mocktails.
Our next stop is Brasserie Angélique, for the main course. The minute that we step inside, we feel like we’ve been transported to France. There are French chefs, cheeses and music – even French guests, so we knew that the food was going to be good. My sea bream baked in a salt crust is amazing.
Then, we hang on to our stomachs in the express lift, as our dessert is waiting on the top floor of the hotel tower at Quest, led by the award-winning Singaporean chef Benjamin Whatt. As my wife and I share a delicate tofu cheesecake, we gaze out over the glittering lights of Abu Dhabi’s ever-growing skyline and the peppermint green of the minarets; a great end to an excellent global culinary evening.
Epicurean Escapades costs Dh986 per person including taxes. Jumeirah at Etihad Towers is offering a reduced rate on a deluxe room of Dh928 per night, including breakfast and taxes, for those booking the experience. For reservations, call 02 811 5666 or email JADrestaurants@jumeirah.com.
