With Indian food so plentiful and affordable in the UAE, restaurateurs aiming at the higher end of that spectrum really need to give some genuine bang for your additional bucks. The celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor is familiar with that equation: there’s already a Signature outlet in the Meliá Dubai hotel. But for its capital city sister, Kapoor has opted to take the mall route.
The blue-ribbon mall restaurant is a niche that might be better exploited. Sure, there are plenty of passable sit-down eateries in the country’s shopping hubs, yet quality brands usually head to hotels. It’s not as if there’s a lack of potential punters with cash to splash in either location.
The most obvious consequence of Signature Abu Dhabi’s alcohol-free environment is the lack of over-gregarious groups. Instead, Emirati couples and quiet, small family groups were seen dining amid the classy interiors.
Even though the Nation Galleria is an upscale mall, you’ll soon forget you’re in a retail space once inside Signature’s dimmed confines, which are decked out in a manner befitting the five-star St Regis hotel next door. Candle-lit lanterns abound, while there’s also a spacious terrace overlooking the Corniche. A small snack “bar”, with its own open kitchen, proved popular for light bites while we were eating in the adjacent main dining room.
The first indication of true culinary flair in action arrives almost immediately via poppadums, with accompanying sauces displayed in what can only be described as a spiral stairway candelabra of condiments, while spiced mango lassi was served in stopper-top glass bottles. An amuse-bouche of aloo tikki was labelled “potato gratin” by our waiter.
The presentation prowess continued into the starters, with a tray of four honey-mustard chaat puffs – cute, assemble-yourself bites of spherical “Delhi-style” semolina crisps filled with potato and lentils. Each came with a shooter glass of mango mint, plus fried chickpeas to tip into the pockets, although the results were a trifle bland. The paneer panch phoran tikka, dibs rumman (Bengali-five-spice-marinated cottage cheese morsels with tangy pomegranate molasses) was similarly mild, but again wonderfully laid out – served from a main skewer platter directly onto our plates.
The mains were, respectively, an undisputed triumph and a slightly less successful culinary gamble.
First, the bad news: the filling of the achari macchi khasta (a mustard-marinated seafood “pavé”, topped with crispy filo – somewhere between a lasagne and a flan) was so fishy that we could only manage a few mouthfuls. Fortunately, the nalli rogan josh was tasty and filling enough for two. The goat shanks were delightfully tender, sitting in a lip-smacking Kashmiri chilli and onion gravy.
The service up to this point had been almost exemplary. But confusion reigned after ordering our desserts. Nothing arrived for a good 15 or 20 minutes, so we reconfirmed our choices. A short while later, a solitary plate was dispatched – unfortunately, this mystery offering was neither of our selections.
It took another five or 10 minutes to resolve, but the wait was mostly worthwhile. The gulab jamun samosas put a sweet twist to a savoury favourite, with saffron and pistachio flavouring the mini milk dumplings crammed into a cocktail glass. The gajar umali was more of an acquired taste, with its baked carrots and pastry content. (All this came after we were told that the most-interesting-sounding dessert – the electric kulfi with “some atoms” – wasn’t available. According to our waiter, fizzing candles are involved.)
If your Indian-cuisine priorities are comparative frugality over sublime presentation and suave atmosphere, then the chances are you’ll be perfectly happy in mid-level places such as Peppermill or India Palace. For a special dose of sophistication, however, Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor will put a sparkle into your night – even if we weren’t quite able to set our evening alight.
• A meal for two at Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor, Nation Galleria, Abu Dhabi, costs Dh539. For more information, call 02 666 4343. Reviewed meals are paid for by The National and conducted incognito
aworkman@thenational.ae
Jawan
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What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
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Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Company%20Profile
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The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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%E2%80%98White%20Elephant%E2%80%99
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