The Cheesecake Factory - Dubai (UAE)

The Cheesecake Factory

Everything that is something ... is in Dubai! That´s what the Cheescake Factory must have tought, cause in August 2012 they opened their first establishment outside of the US. In the Dubai Mall, the biggest mall in the world. The restaurant is located just opposite the largest aquarium window in the world. We went to ask for a table and got a pager to our suprise, with the promise they would signal us when a table would become available, estimated waiting time 20 minutes. As the place is HUGE, my expectations for the quality of the food dropped.

The Dubai Mall entrance & Burj Khalifa by night

The Cheesecake Factory ( back entry )

The biggest aquarium window in the world.

As a good American tradition you get free refills for your drink.

We looked for a starter to share and immediately agreed on the crab cakes. And OMG they were so good, with some graded cole and some deepfried ricenoodles. We were off to a good start.

When I saw the plates passing, there was clearly a theme noticable ... TOWERS. Just one picture of the food waiting in the window to give you an idea. My hope of ever tasting the actual cheesecake there was shrinking :)

Although the place is huge, food is flying out of the window and they re certainly not understaffed. Marleen went for the "BANG-BANG CHICKEN & SHRIMP".

A spicy Thai dish with the flavors of curry, peanut, chile and coconut.

Sauteed with vegetables, served with steamed white rice.

I chose the Hibashi steak. Served with mushrooms, sesame , a tempura of asparagus and mashed patatos topped with a wasabi sauce.

It might not look so appealing but it tasted very good !

And than started the difficult task of picking out our cheesecake. Countless cheesecakes available offcourse but the price of craziest went unanimous to the one with the Snickers bar baked into the cheescake ( see picture of the menu ). However we decided to try their best selling cheesecake : The original with glazed fresh straberries and wipped cream.

 And it was some dammmn good cheesecake

I actually checked the website to regrettably read that they only deliver within the US.

But you can bet your sweet strawberry that we ll go back for that Cheesecake

when we go to NY.

Till next time !



Burj Al Arab - The Ultimate High Tea @ Dubai (UAE)

The Ultimate Afternoon Tea at the Sahn Eddar restaurant in the Burj Al Arab in Bubai

The Ultimate Afternoon Tea in the only 7 star hotel in the world. Talking about high expectations. High expectations is even an understatement, I expected it to be a complete rip-off ; about € 100 for ´´ some coffee and cookies ´´. I thought it would never live up to be the Ultimate Afternoon Tea, but did I know that we were in for the treat of a lifetime ! 

I was a bit stressed on arrival as I didn´t have a confirmation of our reservation on me.

When our black Audi A6 taxi pulled up at the gates, we were granted access to the island of the hotel just by mentioning my name leaving all the (other) tourists at the entrance to take their pictures. A great feeling off course. Driving up to the hotel we could gaze at the remarkable building.

 Our Ultimate Afternoon Tea was reserved at the Sahn Eddar a restaurant just one floor above the entrance, at the front of the hotel. You take the escalator between the dancing fountains and the huge aquarium to arrive at your floor.

We were a bit early, the Ultimate Afternoon Tea has 2 seatings one from 13-16 h and one from 16-19 h

we arrived at 12:45 but were seated immediately. Our seats had a great view on the crazy interior of the hotel. Looking up you can see how it is a big void on the inside ; just 2 walls forming a 90º angle with a sail of a unique polymer to complete the image of a sailboat  

looking up

view to the inside from our table

Inside this open building is the highest fountain which blasts every 15 min 5 floors high

You get your glass of Louis Roederer Champagne allong with the overview of your Ultimate Afternoon Tea

What ??? 7 courses for tea ? I couldn´t believe what I read. Now I was even more curious as it looked like it would be a long tasting trip with a great view .

The also asked me if there s a special occasion for our visit and as a matter of fact it was my birthday.

An extra mystery... what was I to expect. The answer as you will see was surreal.  

 1st course : Berries Tart

2nd course : Assortment of Finger Sandwiches

Ceasar chicken on brown bread 

  Cucumber on brioche bread 

 Beef tortilla wrap 

 Salmon on pumpernickelbread 

 Tuna on Ciabatta colloured with squid ink

3rd course : Chef´s Carvery 

Chicken carving with mashed potato, breadcrum and Pommery mustard sauce. 

4th course : Sorbet 

a lychee sorbet with a rose petal on top

View from our table over the drive to the hotel, the Wild Waddi waterpark and Jumeirah Beach

At the same time the coffee and tea arrived to prelude the sweet part of the afternoon tea. 

 The tea holds a flower that slowly opens as you wait. We bought one of those at home to try but it didn´t open as well as it did at the Burj Al-Arab.

5th course : Freshly baked scones, Devonshire clotted cream and Home-made preserves

Regular & raisin scones, passion fruit, strawberry and orange preserves. And the cream was sooo good.

just as delicious as it looks. Best scones I ´ve ever had.

And than ... my Birthday present, ´Happy Birthday to you´ played on the harp

a birthday pastrie with a ´Thank you for celebrating your birthday with us´

 ! crazy !

 

6th course : French pastries 

My experience is that after the explanation of the pastries you are so overwhelmed that you just point out the tastiest one :)

 HERS

HIS

7th course : Chocolates & Petit Fours

What can I say, it was a picture postcard experience !

till next time !