Simply Abu Dhabi XI

D uring our stay at the sensational Rosewood Abu Dhabi hotel we were lucky enough to experience the wonderful Indian cuisine that will be served at the Spice Mela restaurant. Although it wasn’t officially open at the time, we were privileged enough to be invited to the restaurant for a special ‘taster’ meal. The space of the restaurant itself is cavernous, and the vibrant decorative style and colourful rugs really lift the atmosphere, creating a bright and warm ambiance in which to dine. It is clearly a perfect choice for large parties, but also it’s ideal for those looking for a more intimate environment, as there is a refined private dining area where diners can unwind and enjoy their meal while soaking up the unspoiled views of the Abu Dhabi waterfront and the skyscrapers in the distance. There is discreet lounge-inspired music that is not too invasive and provides a smooth background to a restaurant that pays homage to the varied tastes and history of traditional India, while saluting the country’s inspirational and exciting future. Arnie is particularly excited to eat at Spice Mela as he’s an expert in Indian cooking and so was naturally intrigued by the contemporary approach allied with traditional flavours and recipes used here. In the kitchen the Rosewood Abu Dhabi has assembled a dynamic team of Master Chefs, and between them they have selected the very best recipes from India and then applied modern food trends and ingredients to create dishes that are totally unique to Spice Mela. And to complement the meal, the chefs prepare matching beverages of all varieties to suit all tastes. The restaurant opens officially in September and an immediate rush of curious diners is expected. Spice Mela is one of nine restaurants at the Rosewood Abu Dhabi that are all under the supervision of Executive Chef Wolfgang Eberle. Recently relocated to Abu Dhabi, Chef Eberle joined the Rosewood Abu Dhabi from the sister property in Saudi Arabia. No stranger to new destinations, Eberle has previously worked in Switzerland, China, India, Sri Lanka Canada, the Philippines and the US. We were very pleased to meet him before our meal and he told us that he applied for Abu Dhabi around two years ago and was very happy to have got the job. Chef Eberle’s principal role at the Rosewood is sourcing products and using his knowledge of the region to give guests an experience they will savour. He has carefully studied and contributed to the concept of each restaurant, and he undertook to find the best chefs for each of the hotel’s F&B outlets to create a real sense of expectation for dining in the new Sowwah Square development. “The better your chefs are, the better your team is, and so the better you are,” he says with a smile. “I don’t interfere with the chefs in their restaurants. My job is to offer support and advice, for instance on local tastes or ingredients that might not work so well in this region”, he added. Under the watchful eye of restaurant manager Georgie Mathal, Spice Mela is sure to be a hugely popular restaurant, not only in the hotel, but also in the city as a whole, as is assured by His Excellency Mr. Ali Eid Al Mheiri, the Executive Director of Mubadala Real Estate and Infrastructure. He reflected on the importance of Sowwah Square saying, “The opening of Rosewood Abu Dhabi marks an exciting milestone for Mubadala Real Estate & Infrastructure as the hospitality component of our portfolio advances. This development also represents the next stage in the evolution of Sowwah Square as it moves closer to realising its vision as a thriving urban hub. The ultra-luxury hotel will offer a variety of amenities and food and beverage offerings to the neighbouring business community, local UAE residents and both regional and international tourists visiting the Capital.”