Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVII

www.asiadecuba/abu_dhabi Phone: 02 699 3333 Email: reservationsabudhabi@asiadecuba.com Hours: Lunch 12 noon-3pm Dinner 6pm-midnight Bar 12 noon-2am Friday brunch 12 noon-4pm How do the front-of-house and back-of-house support each other? Communication is always key, respecting each other’s roles and responsibilities and understanding how both parties work. This we encourage by cross-training both the front- of-house and back-of-house. Biggest challenges you face in the kitchen and the restaurant? In the kitchen, it’s to synchronise the execution of the dishes when it’s necessary. For the front-of-house, it’s ensuring our staff’s attention to detail in passing on our vision to the guests. Are there any culinary trends you’re seeing across the world that you integrate into your own menu? To be honest, I try not to look at trends – I try and do my own thing. I believe that helps me be more creative. What advice would you give young chefs entering the industry? Don’t think this is a TV show! It takes a lot of time, work and dedication, and it doesn’t happen in one season. What are your thoughts on the food and beverage scene in the UAE? It’s clear that the scene is developing; there’s a perfect blend of recognised brands and local restaurants. It was a great experience for me to get to know and understand the local culture. To date, what has been your most memorable culinary experience and why? I’ve been lucky to have had a lot of great meals in a lot of great restaurants. But the one that stands out the most was after cooking at the James Beard House with my team. We went to the Spotted Pig together and had a great family-style meal and talked all night about the food and our culinary experiences. I love the interaction, the passion and opinions of the team around me. That was a memorable experience. Where do you want to see yourself five years from now? Hopefully opening an Asia de Cuba in my hometown of Havana, Cuba. Finally our signature question: what do you think of Simply Abu Dhabi? You do a great job of embracing the lifestyle of the area. It’s one we are happy to now be a part of! Guava Whipped Cheesecake Sorbet 5 0 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I