Zest and zing

1

A dimly lit interior and a theatrical twist await at newly opened Japanese restaurant Tabu at The St. Regis Downtown, Dubai. Founded by Infini Concepts and headed by chef Roberto Segura, there’s a sense of drama from tableside food prep through to the geishas and sumo wrestlers performing at regular intervals. Standout dishes include the seabass ceviche with aji, tiger’s milk and crispy corn, which is possibly the freshest ceviche we have had in the city. Meanwhile, the ishiyaki stone bowl filled with slow braised Wagyu beef short rib, Japanese rice and shiitake mushroom went down a treat. The restaurant is also vegan-friendly, and we recommend the vegan tres leches – whether you eat plant-based food or not.

2

Tucked away in Matcha Club’s pastel oasis in Al Quoz – between its yoga studios and padel courts – is Nette, a café offering dishes that blend Japanese flavours with classic French cuisine. We love the seared miso tuna loin with soya-lime dressing and juicy compressed watermelon for its eye-catching plating and spice kick from the wasabi-marinated shallots. For the main affair, don’t miss the mirin-glazed salmon fillet with crispy skin and miso aubergine purée. Fancy something a little more indulgent? The miso braised beef French dip sandwich is one for you. And what better way to end your meal than with the cinnamon custard-soaked French toast with matcha mascarpone and tangy yuzu curd?

3

Occupying the entirety of Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers’ 44th floor complete with sprawling skyline views, Nonya is one of the most recent haunts to open its doors in Dubai’s lofty JLT district. From dim sum to sashimi, laksa to Peking duck, the pan- Asian menu offers a melting pot of Asian cuisines with a strong influence from Southeast Asia’s Peranakan culture. Promising an evening of Asian flair and fare in the form of a four-course sharing-style menu and live entertainment, we visit for the newly launched Friday night brunch. It begins with a selection of small plates as we wait for our mains: beef rendang and black pepper prawns. The latter is flavoured with pungent pepper balancing the prawns. The spice-laden beef rendang is swiftly devoured, as is the rich pulut hitam – an Indonesian dessert made from black glutinous rice.

GAME, SET, MATCHA

Matcha is Japanese green tea powder with a slightly bitter taste and has exploded beyond its traditional use in tea ceremonies to drinks in cafés and restaurants worldwide. Find your perfect match(a) with us!

1 Blu Matcha: You can choose between three grades of organic matcha for your daily caffeine fix that can be prepared hot or cold, and poured over your choice of nut, oat or soya milk. They also have merch.

2 % Arabica: Japanese speciality coffee shop, % Arabica can be found in malls all over Dubai, and the matcha latte is one of the best. Strong, but still refreshing with a creamy, airy taste, it’s the perfect mid-afternoon drink.

3 Wild and The Moon: This rich green matcha latte has a hint of spirulina, which gives it a deeper hue. The almond and coconut mylk gives it a creamy texture and the maple brings a balanced sweetness.