Journey to Sardinia with The Hidden Hog
Guests can expect an authentic Sardinian-curated tasting menu using a host of ingredients from the sought-after Italian seaside destination on April 10 Inviting guests to journey to the ultra-luxe island destination of Sardinia for one-night only, The Hidden Hog will host a special Sardinian Dinner in partnership with Is Mellus – importers of specialty ingredients from Sardinia to Dubai – on April 10 from 7pm; a diary date for any avid Italian cuisine lover. For AED 237 per person, diners will enjoy a four-course menu and a welcome cocktail of 16-hours infused single origin coffee Negroni, all paired with sounds from the idyllic isle. Curated and prepared by The Hidden Hog’s Italian chef Enrico Paiola, the Sardinian evening will begin with mixed charcuterie, cheese and grilled vegetables with carasau bread. Traditional malloreddus alla campidanese with sausages and pecorino cheese is served next, followed by mains of tender suckling pig with crispy roasted potatoes and mixed salad. The evening is brought to a close with a classic Sardinian dessert of Seadas – sweet pastries filled with pecorino and lemon zest that are deep-fried and drizzled with eucalyptus honey. Tucked away in the heart of DIFC, The Hidden Hog presents an inviting, laid-back atmosphere paired with unmistakable European hospitality and charm by its predominantly Italian native team. As seating is limited, reservations are required for this event. The Hidden Hog is located on Floor 3 of Building 3 in DIFC’s Gate Village 3, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is open daily from 10am – 3am. For more information or reservations, call +971 (0) 4364 0126, e-mail [email protected], visit thehiddenhog.com, or follow @thehiddenhog on Instagram.
Dining experience: A Capella, The Pointe, Dubai
Since the world’s largest fountain opened at Palm Jumeirah’s The Pointe in October 2020, the destination has become a hot spot for dining. Here’s why you should give A Capella a try. A Cappella is a casual hangout-style lounge and global tapas bar located at Palm Jumeirah’s lifestyle destination, The Pointe. With uninterrupted views over the water and Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, A Capella is situated on the second, licensed floor of the destination. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, the venue is super casual, cool and welcoming. While the weather’s cool enough, you can enjoy table seating outdoors on the large terrace area, or alternatively grab a seat at the quirky bar inside which overlooks an open kitchen, giving the place a very Spanish-esque feel – who doesn’t love being able to watch chefs firsthand working their magic? The atmosphere is upbeat, welcoming and fun, with the music increasing slightly as the night goes on – making it an all-round great spot for hanging out with friends, to enjoy affordably priced quality food and beverage throughout the night. On the menu A Capella is brought to us by the guys behind two of the city’s most sought-after modern Indian restaurants, Tresind and Carnival by Tresind. If you’re a fan of these concepts, you’ll know that perfected flavours blended with fun and interactive creativity run through the veins of everything produced by this team – and A Capella is no different. The passport-style menu at A Capella is divided into various countries, each of which showcase a handful of dishes that the respective countries are known for. Although the menu covers a decent variety of cuisines, I like that the menu selection isn’t overbearing – it’s always a concern when kitchens try to pull too much off, but A Capella ensures the selection is kept small, and quality high. All dishes on the menu are tapas portions, so it’s a great place to come when you fancy nibbling away at a variant of flavours. The pani puri chapmenoise gets us off to a great start – little crispy bites of chickpea and potato filled with vibrant tamarind water. Moving to the USA, we devoured the mini cheese burger sliders served in beautifully soft brioche-like buns, topped with mushroom ketchup and stick fries, which provided a great crunchy texture. This dish was fantastic paired with the mac and cheese served with lobster and truffle, which was absolutely delicious and indulgent. One of my favourite dishes of the night was the tandoori lamb chops marinated in shichimi soy and served with a miso dip. The lamb was tender and packed with flavour – both my dining partner and I contemplated ordering a second portion they were that good. Another dish we equally enjoyed was the de-shelled mud crab malay curry – a perfectly blended mixture of spices and beautiful creamy flavours, which we were sure to mop up with paratha and steamed rice. To finish, I couldn’t resist the mention of sticky toffee pudding from the UK’s section of the menu. Prepared with a twist on the classic, A Capella’s pudding is made using dates, served with banana ice cream and topped with salted caramel popcorn. The details A Capella offers fantastic value for money, with most dishes averaging around Dhs30 per portion. We were also really impressed with the beverage prices – it’s certainly an ideal spot for meeting a group of friends for a catch-up without having to worry about how much the bill is going to come to at the end of the night. For more information, call 04-5896788.