Abu Dhabi Foodie News: A new French bakery, Fly Hotdog’s tasty bites, exclusive olive oils at Emirates Palace and more

Pascal Tepper French Bakery will open on January 13. Courtesy Pascal Tepper French Bakery

• The modern dine-in French cafe Pascal Tepper French Bakery will open in Abu Dhabi next Tuesday (January 13). Led by French master baker Pascal Tepper, the cafe is already a popular spot in Dubai Media City. The cafe serves soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches, an array of main dishes and plenty of desserts and pastries. Tepper and his team have plans to open four more bakeries across the Middle East in the next year. In Abu Dhabi, the cafe is located on the ground floor of the IPIC building on Muroor Road. www.pascaltepperfrenchbakery.com
• Have you tried a burger or hot dog at Fly Hotdog yet? We've just discovered this home-grown spot in Khalidya and we were surprised to learn they opened their doors over the summer. This small American-style eatery grills up Australian Angus beef on an open fire and the results are delicious. The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, chicken burgers and a baked potato (called Burning Love) loaded with 10 toppings. They also do nachos, fries and shakes. Single burgers are Dh32, unless you opt for the King Elvis burger — a double burger with eight toppings — for Dh49. A second location is scheduled to open in Mohammed Bin Zayed City in the next two months. Fly Hotdog is in Khalidiya, next to La Brioche. Open Saturday through Wednesday from 10am to 1am; until 3am on Thursdays and from 1pm to 3am on Fridays. 02 633 3508.
• Try one of the world's most exclusive oils at Mezzaluna in Emirate Palace this month. MANNI oil is produced in the Italian mountain town of Seggiano using rare olives found only on the slopes of Monte Amiata in Southern Tuscany. MANNI's extra virgin olive oils are silky and smooth with low acidity. The two oils — MANNI Per Me (for me) and MANNI Per Mio Figlio (for my child) are only available to taste through January. If you're an olive oil connoisseur, keep Mezzaluna on your calendar. The restaurant will introduce a new exclusive olive oil every month. The oils are not available to purchase. For reservations, call 02 690 7999.
• Spaccanapoli, the popular Italian restaurant in the Crowne Plaza on Hamdan Street, has added lots of new tastes to their revamped menu. Among the notable new items: sea bass with lobster bisque, cherry tomatoes, Taggiasche olives and pine nuts; Milanese style ossobuco and gremolata with saffron risotto; and the Spaccanapoli giant breaded Milanese style veal cutlet. They've also come up with some new pizzas, including the Spaccanapoli that comes with tomato, buffalo mozzarella, beef carpaccio, Parmesan shavings and truffle oil. The restaurant also offers gluten-free pizza and pasta. For reservations, call 02 616 6261.