|
The Michelin stars seem to be just about everywhere at the Atlantis Palm Jumeirah, all dotted around the fine eateries which this striking hotel calls its own. While these eateries may well be within the hotel, they cannot call the food their own. That honor belongs to the stellar chefs who lend their talents to the kitchens and deliver between them some of the finest food in the United Arab Emirates.
|
|
|
| There is a restaurant for every occasion, but one stands out above the others. Ossiano, named for the ocean, is the astounding restaurant which is something of a showcase for the culinary genius of Chef Santi Santamaria. Famous for his three Michelin stars, earned for his Catalan restaurant, Ossiano is his first culinary foray into the big wide world beyond Spain. If the experience of dining at Ossiano is anything to go by, it probably won't be his last. |
|
 |
Ossiano Restaurant
Atlantis
Palm Jumeirah
Dubai Marina
Dubai
Tel : +971 426 2626
|
|
|
From the moment you arrive via the long staircase the soft blue hue of the Ambassador Lagoon casts its gleam over the tables. The tone is subdued, even reverent, and there is more than a smattering of romantic elegance. Of course, this is partly due to the fact that elegant attire is a prerequisite of being allowed to your table. But when you have taken your seat, awash in the light of the deep blue water, then the adventure begins. It's perhaps even fair to suggest that the depths of lagoon can't begin to match the heights of toothsome delight that Chef Santi Santamaria and his skilled team of kitchen confrère manage to conjure.
|
|
| Gourmets who are familiar with Chef Santi Santamaria's special talent with Catalan dishes might forgo the Prix Fixe menus and head directly to their favorite morsel, but those who've yet to revel in the full range of delights this master chef realizes with astonishing regularity, would do better to opt for a tasting menu. Those who do will be rewarded. |
|
|
| Far from being just a collection of thrown together dishes, the tasting menus are a carefully plotted journey, each dish building on the last, until the final mouthful is but an exquisite memory. That is when you know you have eaten at Ossiano and why Chef Santi Santamaria has earned the soubriquet 'Architect of Food'. |
|
From the combination of apple with white-fish mince finished off with the typically wonderful caviar, to the cuttle-fish prepared in its very own ink, this is cuisine to excite the mind and reward adventurous, discerning eaters.
While such delicacies as crab with an orange sauce are sure to entertain the imaginative, there is nothing on the menu which merely rests on its title. Rather, you'll find each perfect ingredient treated with the utmost respect and skill, brought to life in a dish of myriad nuances and contrasts.
Whatever style of evening you plan, don't forget to sample the highly desirable offerings from the caviar bar.
|
 |
|
| Naturally, such sophisticated samplings require an equally elegant wine or Champagne. The knowledgeable sommelier will be able to provide, from the considerable cellar, something perfect for each bite and course. |
|
| No matter whether you find yourself drawn to the magical sense of dining in a Captain Nemo type location, or are one of those discerning eaters who travel the world in search of the finest food and the best chefs, then Ossiano has something for you. The inherent romance of the venue makes it ideal for intimate meals for two, but all who put themselves in the capable hands of Chef Santi Santamaria's kitchen will discover romance of a different kind. |
|
|
