Simply Abu Dhabi VIII

However, on such a gorgeous evening as thiswe hadno intentionof dining inside. We were greeted by a charming waitress andescorted to an immaculately laid table on the hotel’s terrace. From here, we could look out once more over the stunning vista of Downtown Dubai. It’s a city that never fails to inspire: a place that attracts some of the world’s most sophisticated, elegant and talented people. Before our meal, we were served some absolutely incredible tea-based non- alcoholic cocktails. These drinks were expertly mixed. The flavours were so subtle, so compelling and so expertly crafted that each sipwas like travelling to an entirely differentworld. These are the kind of drinks that you sip and savour ever so slowly, because you just don’t want the experience to end. In these stunning settings, we decided to share three dishes: honey cod, shrimp wasabi, and scallops. All three of these amazingly crafted dishes were strikingly presented, and each tasted phenomenal. Wewere impressedwith theway that the chefs had taken provincial Chinese methods of preparation and added a thrilling contemporary twist. My personal favourite was the honey cod. I just loved how this classic fish responded to being cooked with sweet honey. Such a seductive blend of flavours! The shrimp wasabi, too, was superb – a really vibrant mixture of freshness and spice. The scallops were also faultless, prepared toutter perfection. And to accompany these amazing dishes we ordered sides of tasty mushrooms, fiery pickled soy beans and crunchy zucchini. The food was everything we had hoped for – and more. The chefs are clearly artists at the top of their game. But a special mentionmust go to the service at Hukama. The waitresses were ready to answer every query about the food, and told us the fascinating story behind the menu here. The head chef has travelled extensively throughAsia inhis search for the finest cuisines. He has specialised in various styles in the past, but atHukama, it’s Cantonese that is his passion. Cantonese food, originating in China’s Canton region, features a large amount of seafood, and is all about natural ingredients and fresh produce. Unlike Szechuan cuisine, it does not gain its power from strong spices, but rather from finely harmonised flavours. It was the first type of Chinese food tomake an international impact – and from our experience eating here at Hukama, we can say that its reputation is utterly deserved. The dishes are truly sophisticated, and really showcase the cuisine’s wonderful balance of delicate flavours. Having sampled the authenticityof this brilliant food,wewere not surprised at all to find that eight of the outlet’s 10 chefs were from China. The team here are hugely passionate about sourcing thebest ingredients. Lobsters come from Canada, ducks from Malaysia, and vegetables are flown in from China. Then there are the live fish and lobsters in the kitchen’s fish tanks: it’s hard to beat that kind of freshness. Hukama’s menu is based on a principle of seasonality – so it changes every six to eight months. But whatever is being served, you can be sure it is going to be absolutely in season and top class. There are, of course, some signature dishes that always remain. Formy dessert, I ordered the restaurant’s classic banana creation. The dish consisted of a rich and succulent banana cake, which came with flambéed bananas on top, as well as a banana chip and a generous scoop of soft, sweet banana ice cream. I really loved the inventiveness of this dish. It was a novel and exciting experience to enjoy so many textures, all sharing the same fundamental flavour. Jordana ordered black sesame ice creamcrumble, which I found to be equally deliciouswhen I tasted a little. The crumbledisplayed the sophistication and elegance that we have by now come to expect – it was supremely rich while being utterly delicate. The ice cream itself, meanwhile, was refreshing and creamy, with a really subtle flavour. So, did the meal live up to the high standards demanded by its setting in the gorgeous Address Downtown? Absolutely! Hukama is a shining jewel in the midst of a superb hotel, itself located in an exquisite city. When you next come to Dubai, you simply must visit this remarkable restaurant. We promise you, you will not regret it.