Simply Abu Dhabi XI

4 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I O ur first experience of cuisine in the fantastic Rosewood Abu Dhabi hotel was in the stunning Catalan restaurant. This is the first Catalonian restaurant in the UAE capital and after a warm and friendly meeting with the two-Michelin starred chef Antonio Saez and his trusted manager Jordi Vicente, we learned that the ingredients and cooking methods at Catalan combine the best of Iberian meats, with fish, cheese and the freshest local produce. With such an authentic array of specialty Spanish food and drink, Arnie and I are filled with anticipation. We are sure that this dining experience will be ‘totalmente bueno’. The dining room itself is elegantly curated, with raw oak floorboards and aged brown leather furniture creating a genuine rustic cosiness in which to enjoy the various stages of the meal. As a starter we absolutely loved the gazpacho, a traditional Spanish chilled soup. Bursting with cucumber flavour and served on ice in a dinky glass bottle, it was an ideal way to cleanse the palate and prepare for more culinary surprises. Next we sampled the duck foie gras that was served with green asparagus and cabbage, with spring onion cream and a honey dressing. The dish was cooked in the Mediterranean escabeche style, whereby it is slowly marinated in an acidic mixture to create a delicious tang. The foie gras was infused with vinegar and garlic and was just the right consistency. It literally melted in the mouth and was incredibly indulgent, while the honey dressing was a masterful twist on this creamy dish.