Autumn’s Golden Harvest Arrives at Novikov

There is a particular magic to autumn in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, one that Novikov seeks to capture and transport across continents to Abu Dhabi’s dining scene. For five nights only, from 27 to 31 October, the restaurant’s ongoing Giro d’Italia journey pauses to honour the season’s most prized ingredients, with Parmigiano Reggiano taking pride of place at the heart of the menu.

The cheese, aged to a state of golden perfection, carries within it the essence of Lombardian terroir. Its nutty complexity and mineral depth speak to centuries of craft, of milk transformed through time into something both refined and deeply nourishing. It is the kind of ingredient that demands to be treated with reverence, and Novikov’s kitchen understands this language perfectly.

Pumpkin, too, plays its part in this autumnal narrative. In the hands of skilled chefs, it becomes something far more elegant than its humble reputation might suggest: subtle, earthy and capable of remarkable depth when paired with ingredients of similar pedigree.

The Giro d’Italia concept at Novikov represents an ongoing exploration of Italy’s regional cuisines, a culinary odyssey that celebrates the distinct character of each destination. This particular chapter, brief and focused, offers guests the opportunity to experience how the restaurant interprets the flavours of a specific moment in time and place. It is the kind of culinary storytelling that rewards those who understand dining as more than sustenance: as a conversation between kitchen and table, between tradition and the present moment.

For those who value precision, seasonality and the artistry that elevates ingredients to their highest expression, this ephemeral celebration warrants attention. Five nights, after all, pass quickly, and opportunities to experience such focused, intentional cooking do not linger indefinitely.

Imagery courtesy of Novikov.