TASTING MENU AT CATALAN ROSEWOOD HOTEL

What is a Tasting Menu? a tasting menu offers several dishes with small portions. A french term for Menu tasting is Menu Degustion. Tasting Menu is offered in restaurants to provide a sample of house specialties. 

I've always wanted to try CATALAN at Rosewood Hotel as they have two Michellin Star Chef Antonio Saez. They offer a tasting menu plus carefully selected wines that goes along with it. It is the first Catalonian restaurant in Abu Dhabi which is from the northeastern region of Spain. 

CHEF ANTONIO SAEZ

The place is small and very intimate probably only caters to not more than 50 people as they want the place to be really intimate and I believe it doesn't compromise the preparation of food for a specialized chef.

CATALAN ROSEWOOD HOTEL ABU DHABI

They have 2 kinds of tasting menu. One is priced at 345AED plus 175AED for wine pairing or 275 with connoisseur wine. It comes with a starter, main and dessert

The next tasting menu is chef Antonio's 7 course tasting menu which is priced at 495 plus 275 wine pairing and 375 with connoisseur wine.

We tried the Catalan Tasting menu priced at 345 plus wine.

They serve a house bread with a glass of champagne.

Then they served a pumpkin hummus

Followed by the Roasted Steak of FOIE GRAS that comes with baked capsicum, eggplant in extra virgin olive oil that is served on toast. 

FOIE GRAS

I am not a fan of wines nor a wine connoisseur  but the wines they serve in each meal are so refreshing on the palette that doesn't have any "disgusting" (excuse my language) bitter taste

Then comes the Seafood Paella which comes in really small portion but very filling.  My friend enjoyed the seafood paella but for me I really enjoyed the FOIE GRAS

SEAFOOD PAELLA

They served the beef tenderloin which they will ask you in the beginning how you like it cooked.
I prefer medium rare. The beef is a bit dry which we didn't enjoy much and asked extra sauce for it.

BEEF TENDERLOIN

My favorite part is always the dessert. I feel every meal is not complete without it. A must try in this restaurant is Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ice Cream which has cardamon soup and pistachio biscuit. 

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL ICE CREAM

I know what you're thinking, what is an olive oil doing in the dessert? Well it taste like a dulce de leche cake with cardamon soup thats what it exactly taste like.

Service was excellent and the servers were all very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable about the food and wine.

Complimentary chocolates and biscuit 

I really recommend you to try CATALAN in Rosewood Hotel if you are in Abu Dhabi. A bit pricey but well worth the food experience.

DOOR TO CATALAN

                  BUDGET: For menu tasting: minimum of 500AED per person without wine

                       For Ala Carte: Approximately 600AED for 2 people (main plus dessert)