Rhodes Mezzanine Dubai March 2011

Rhodes Mezzanine which is located in the Dubai Marina area is British celebrity chef Gary Rhodes first establishment outside of UK. They don´t offer a normal set menu which most other similar restaurants do but instead they have a list of about 10 smaller dishes from the a la carte list from which you can create your own set menu and every dish is priced separately.

Snacks: Salmon toast, foie gras and pineapple

Gary Rhodes famous white tomato soup

Two kinds of whipped butter. Very different from the normal butter that I´m used to

Foie gras, apple jelly and brioche

Tempura scallops, sweet corn creme
, tarragon and oyster mushrooms and crisp shallots

Beetroot, shallot and fig tart, fresh goat´s cheese, fig and red wine syrup

The best dish of the night: crab and baby spinach lasagne with hazelnut velouté

John Dory with shiitake mushrooms, asparagus and scallops

Slow roast pork belly with smoked bacon hash and poached egg Hollandaise

The cheese selection

Pear mousse with honey syrup pear, pear sorbet and chocolate sauce

Toffee pudding soufflé with toffee sauce and toffee ice cream

Chocolate with almond and pistachios and my new favourite: scones, homemade strawberry jam and clotted cream

Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire, Dubai March 2011

This was my 3rd time at Reflets since it opened a couple of years ago. This time Pierre Gagnaire himself was present in the restaurant during the dinner service. He personally came and greeted all guests at their tables which was a nice touch. He really seemed very down to earth considering how famous he is in the restaurant world. After the dinner he was also nice enough to let us take some pictures with him.

The set menu for the night

Amuse Bouche

Two types of butter.

Balik Salmon, caviar and sea urchin

...and a shrimp "sandwich" on the side

Asparagus and Burrata

Green asparagus ice cream

Shellfish, leek oyster and foie gras

Cotes de Veau cooked in hay

Two cheese dishes

A cheese Creme Brulee

Pre-dessert

Les Desserts de Pierre Gagnaire

Sticky rice and coconut

Mignardines