Catch, Abu Dhabi
The seafood restaurant Catch has officially opened in Abu Dhabi and, just like its neighbour Asia de Cuba, this beachfront venue at the Nation Riviera Beach Club has it all when it comes to location. The two-level, ultra-chic restaurant with a rooftop lounge boasts a large outdoor terrace so you can enjoy stunning views of the beach and water with your meal. You'll find high-quality sushi and sashimi as well as caviar, three different types of oysters and a range of fresh fish dishes such as pan-seared red mullet, steamed monkfish, black cod in miso and a papillote-style sea bass (cooked in a pouch). There are meats on the menu as well, but seafood is the star at Catch. The restaurant also offers VIP valet parking (convenient given its right on the busy Corniche Road). It also offers a limo pick-up service. Catch is open daily from noon to midnight; the rooftop lounge is open daily from 3pm to 3am. Call 02 611 0909 or visit www.catch.ae.
Tribeca, Dubai
This New York-inspired kitchen and bar will open tomorrow in the Ocean View Hotel at JBR's The Walk in Dubai. The restaurant has a hip, casual, lounge atmosphere and offers healthy and organic food and beverages. The concept is a tribute to the neighbourhood in New York City that it's named after: Triangle Below Canal (also known as Tribeca). The new neighbourhood eatery will also be a platform for local talent. There will be live art exhibitions, celebrity cooking demos, pop-up stores and more. DJs, vocalists and musicians will also perform. Tribeca and its head chef Giovanni De Ambrosis use organic produce wherever possible and the menu is full of naturally and humanely sourced ingredients from regional farmers and fair-trade cooperatives. There will also be a retail store offering natural and organic items such as cooking oils, truffles, nuts, dates, aged vinegars and more. Open from 6pm to 2am on weekdays; until 3am on weekends. Call 04 814 5923 or visit www.tribeca.ae.
Perry & Blackwelder’s Original Smokehouse, Dubai
Have you tried Perry & Blackwelder’s Original Smokehouse in Dubai yet? The first smokehouse in the UAE serves up flavour-packed smoked meats at the Souk Madinat Jumeirah. This new American restaurant pays homage to the Deep South’s love of barbecue.
Those making the meat – called pitmasters – cook the cuts of meat slowly over a wood fire at a low temperature (“slow and low”). The restaurant’s American executive chef and pitmaster Lawrence Wells (the UAE’s only master smoker) smokes mesquite brisket, mesquite beef short ribs, applewood-smoked turkey breast, pulled brisket and much more. Smoked for 23 hours, the meat absorbs flavours from the wood used in the process. Wells uses oak, cherry, mesquite, apple, birch, almond, hickory, peach and pecan wood, all imported from Las Vegas.
Starting today, Perry & Blackwelder's will host a Smokin' Fair to showcase its skills. At the fair, you can sample meats from food stalls, watch a 45-minute chef demonstration every day (6pm on weekdays; 4pm on weekends) listen to the live band and participate in traditional fair games from the Southern US. The Smokin' Fair runs from 5pm to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 2pm to 10pm Friday and Saturday until January 31. Regular restaurant timings are from noon to 2am. Call 04 366 5866 or visit www.perryandblackwelder.com.
sjohnson@thenational.ae