The whole year ends with a bang in December, beginning with Christmas preparations and continuing until the new year is rung in. Most dining spots have special seasonal menus that come out around this time of year. Brunswick Sports Club is no exception. They have come up with an exceptional festive menu to make your taste buds go carolling along the sands of Dubai.
The Spot
Located at the Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel in Al Barsha, this sports bar has a rustic feel. Wooden picnic benches and bar stools keep the comforting atmosphere on fleek. Calming ambient lighting sets the tone for a chilled-out evening. And live musicians keep the vibe of a good old-fashioned bar in check. The serving staff are pleasant and enthusiastic. The assistant manager, Riyadh, believes in making sure that everyone (the staff) has fun while working as only then will the customers want to return.
The Food
Harlequin salad: Asian mixed leaves, dried cranberries, mandarins, poached egg, candied pecans, Moroccan spice, apple cider dressing
This salad provided an explosion of flavours and textures all in one bite. A salad this good could be devoured for breakfast, lunch or dinner as a meal in itself.
Artichoke soup: grilled artichoke, bresaola en croute and truffle oil
A deliciously creamy soup packed with goodness that was super filling. If I had my way, this soup could be my dinner every day.
Chargrilled Wagyu: buttered Brussels sprouts, shiitake Béarnaise, grated chestnuts, katsuobushi (aka bonito flakes)
The shiitake Béarnaise sauce was the highlight of this dish. It made every component come together and sing in harmony on a cold winter evening. I loved every bit of the grated chestnuts and the subtle yet flavourful hit of the bonito flakes.
Guinea fowl: beef bacon, braised red cabbage, smoked butter, thyme bacon bouquet
Served on a bed of creamy mashed potato with sharp yet sweet braised purple cabbage. The contrasting flavours worked so well together, and the guinea fowl was cooked perfectly.
Christmas dinner in a bun: smoked pulled turkey, cranberry sauce, roasted veggies, Yorkshire pudding, peas and gravy
The Yorkshire pudding was the burger bun, the pulled turkey was the main sarnie filling, the cranberry sauce was the jam, the roasted veggies and peas were the veg and the gravy was the sauce. This was one heck of a creative way to get an entire Christmas feast onto a plate within a bun. Santa himself would have stopped here a couple of times just to have this bad boy.
Pan-fried salmon: broccoli green curry, charred French long beans, crispy lotus flower
Okay. Lets talk about this: broccoli green curry. Seriously? Who know green curry paste could be exploited with broccoli to make them sing in harmony? This dish was exceptional. The crunchy beans were delicious, and the salmon was cooked to pink perfection.
King oyster pappardelle: wild mushrooms, poached kale, grated Parmesan cheese, tarragon
A vegetarian delight, this dish would also satisfy any meat eaters. It was filling and smothered in a lovely, creamy seasoned Parmesan sauce.
Christmas pudding: with vanilla bean crème anglaise
A small pudding packed with a bunch of Christmas spices to get the celebrations going. This paired well with the silky-smooth vanilla-bean-flecked crème anglaise. A perfect ending to our festive feast.
The Verdict
A must-try festive menu. This beautifully crafted menu is fit for all ages, with satisfying dishes for anyone and everyone. I love this place and will definitely try out their year-round menu sometime soon.
Level 2, Sheraton Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha, Dubai, +971 56 404 0685