Attending my first ever brunch in the UAE, The Foundry’s Steak and Jazz Brunch at the Southern Sun Hotel in Abu Dhabi was definitely impressive.
From the beautiful decor to the jazz duo, the atmosphere was truly wonderful. Heading into The Foundry, my guest and I were treated to a variety of dining options, including an oyster bar (with oysters imported from France), a cheese room, a foie-gras station (where I had my first taste of foie-gras ice cream), an antipasti and seafood island, carpaccio, a tartar and charcuterie station and soup of your choice (lobster bisque and forest mushrooms were the choices available).
We both decided to try the lobster bisque, which I found to be a little too salty for my liking, but my guest seemed to enjoy it. Afterwards, we headed towards the antipasti and seafood island, where we noticed the mango-pineapple gazpacho drink, which proved to be quite popular. Made from mango, pineapple, lemon juice, salt, pepper and chilli, the refreshingly sweet drink packed an interestingly spicy punch.
For those who enjoy seafood, there’s an impressive array to choose from, including lobster, oysters, shrimp, squid, crab and salmon, but I really enjoyed the veal loin, which was cooked to perfection, with a juicy centre. The meat offered included milk-fed veal loins from Holland, grass-fed black Angus stripling from Australia, tenderloin from the United States, grass-fed rib-eye from Australia and grass-fed Wagyu flank steak, also from Australia.
But my favourite part of the meal came in the form of dessert. The dessert station offered tiramisu, strawberry cheesecake, éclairs, lemon meringue tart, crème brûlée and mud cake with ice cream. We tried the lemon meringue tart, crème brûlée and mudcake – none were too sweet and with the garnish added in front of you.
For those looking for a solid brunch, the Steak and Jazz Brunch is a smart option. With varied food options, lovely atmosphere and beautiful decor, it’s an excellent way to spend a Friday afternoon.
• The Foundry’s Steak and Jazz Brunch is from 12.30pm to 4pm on Fridays and costs from Dh275 per person with soft drinks.