SimplyAbuDhabi VII

2 9 0 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Pure elegance The tone for the meal was set by the venue’s stunning interior. Created by Geometry Design Moscow, the surroundings create an atmosphere of pure elegance. There’s a lovely wood-fired oven, beautiful suede wall panelling, and exquisite handmade Moroccan tiles. No detail has been overlooked: the mirrors are encased in solid, rich- coloured oak frames, and the dazzling candle chandeliers are of the very highest class. This was the perfect setting in which to enjoy the superb Italian cuisine. To start with, I had pan-fried mushrooms topped with two fried eggs and Norcia truffles. The mushrooms had clearly been cooked with consummate skill: they were perfectly tender, juicy and full of flavour. The fried eggs were a delicious counterpart, but what really made the dish were the Norcia truffles. Norcia is a part of Italy’s Umbria region that is renowned for producing excellent specimens of this glorious food. When you eat ingredients like this, you know you are in the hands of a chef who really understands the fine things in life – and that’s a description that would apply absolutely to the man in charge of the menu here, Carnelo Carnevale. And while we’re on the subject of the staff here, I have to give a special mention to the talented General Manager of Novikov’s London team, Caroline Taylor. Arriving here fromChina Tang, she has a massively impressive background, having spent five years at The Dorchester’s celebrated restaurant, and helped set up the amazing Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor eatery. In 1996, Taylor was appointed General Manager of London’s Oxo Tower, and under her expert stewardship the venue became a legendary London dining destination.