The beautiful Sofitel Dubai The Palm, a family friendly hotel which prides itself on service and elegance certainly did not disappoint today at the launch of their new festive Christmas brunch, says Melanie Gordon.
The venue was the cheery, family-friendly Manava restaurant that fully lives up to its name, which means “welcome” in Tahitian. Executive Head Chef Kevin and his new team have recently launched a new menu across all their restaurants. During the pandemic, the Sofitel had a chance to look at the consumer trends of local Dubai residents’ preferences and reposition themselves to building their festive offering to delight one and all!
The offering of mocktails and cocktails on arrival was lovely with an excellent choice and personally made for you. I had the non-alcoholic raspberry concoction, which was mouth-watering, both refreshing and sweet. The unique food stations that were on offer included, cured meats, cheese and fish, roast dinners, vegetarian, sushi and a full bar including mulled wine.
I first tried the diverse types of pies on offer. The homemade outer crust was great followed by a deep hint of mustard and the rich steak and vegetables inside. Other pies included a vegetarian choice and also chicken, all served with onion gravy and a Yorkshire pudding. I then moved on to the roast dinner. The turkey was succulent but unfortunately not accompanied by any potatoes, parsnips, or any of the usual vegetables which one would expect from a British roast dinner, especially a Christmas roast dinner. The mini amuse bouche of different salads and meats were pleasing to the eye and tasted even better.
Whilst we sat at the table savouring this delicious festive brunch edition, the attentive waiters bought a smoking gin aperitif. The bottle opened and the smell of Oud filled the glasses as the drink was being poured, I am very much one for the theatrics and this was delightful. The smoke filled the air and left a pleasant smell lingering behind. Think of Oud and Christmas all wrapped up in a drink!
Firing on all cylinders, came the desserts. Only one word, amazing. Beautifully crafted and with pastry offerings of firm favourites like mini mince pies and the star of the show being the Yule Log. The inspired European dessert from the Medieval times looked and tasted divine. A perfect way to end a lovely afternoon at the Sofitel. The brunch will be running from the 6th of December and well worth a visit.
The most magical time of the year is here and the countdown to Christmas Day in the UAE has begun. If you, like many other families, are choosing to leave the chef’s hat to someone else this year, the Sofitel Christmas Brunch is sure to jolly up your Christmas Day!
Visit https://www.sofitel-dubai-thepalm.com/ to know more.