The Stations
Walking into Giornotte, the scale of the spread immediately hits you. A hostess weaving through with caviar-topped blinis sets the tone for the afternoon. From there, every corner offers something new to try. From canapés to a DIY Mexican section, a customisable ramen area, a cheese bar and spreads of cold cuts. There’s a buzzing Meat Market with a Tomahawk station that had people lining up. The seafood spread pulled me in next, with oysters shucked to order, sushi, ceviche and even a sashimi master wielding a samurai sword to carve your fish. The food was excellent across the board, every area had something worth stopping for
Out of all the stations, I kept finding myself circling back to the Italian section. There’s something about freshly made pasta that never fails to win me over and the risotto was just the right balance of creamy and rich without being heavy. The pizzas, too, were hard to resist, with thin, crisp bases and just the right amount of char, accompanied by toppings that tasted straight out of Naples.
There was a hearty, pie-like Pizza al Rustico that I absolutely loved but what really stole the show for me were the seafood pizzas. The prawn pizza was rich and perfectly balanced, while the salmon pizza was lighter but just as satisfying. I could have happily spent the whole brunch circling back to these.
Save Room for Sweets
As tempting as it is to fill up early, I suggest leaving room for dessert. It was, without question, my favourite part of the brunch. If I had to pick highlights, the peach tonka charlotte cake, pistachio fig cake and mango passion fruit choux would be the winners. Each was delicate, balanced and beautifully presented and I honestly couldn’t get enough. The finale came with a bit of theatre, a freshly churned ice cream right in front of us, accompanied by clouds of liquid nitrogen vapours spilling dramatically into the air.
The Setting
Of course, the food is not the only thing that makes this brunch memorable. The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, with its grand Renaissance-inspired architecture and views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, adds to the sense of occasion, the scale of the venue and the live entertainment tie the afternoon together perfectly.
The Verdict
Clear your calendar, block off the whole afternoon and go with friends or family. Make a day out of it. The Chef’s Brunch 2.0 might just be the best Saturday brunch you’ll have this season.
