Cheese and Grape | Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara

“Men are like wine – some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age” Pope John XXIII

Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara

So last night we headed over to the Impressions Rooftop Lounge at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara on the Eastern Corniche here in AD for a Cheese and Grape evening. Now I really like cheese and I really like grapes especially when they are crushed and come in liquid form in a long-stemmed glass, so we were all set for another cracking night.

Impressions Rooftop Bar, Anantara Eastern Mangroves

The good news was that we had a 2-for-1 voucher from Time Out Abu Dhabi (as I said before I love a voucher) which promised unlimited red and white beverages and a great cheese selection from a range of countries, all set in a trendy bar with a breathtaking view across the mangroves.

Time Out Voucher

Wine and cheese have gone hand in hand for centuries with countries producing wines and cheeses that complement each other naturally and last nights array included a range of artisan cheeses from France, Spain and Italy among others. There was a wide selection of crudités, breads and crackers as well as a selection of different fruits to cleanse the palette. I enjoyed a few glasses of a lovely Malbec with my cheese choice to celebrate World Vegetarian Day, while the others were sampling the white wines on offer.

Some of the selection of cheeses, crudités and breads on offer

White wines tend to go well with soft cheeses that have a stronger, more strong flavor and smell. Red wines generally work better with milder hard cheeses. Last nights selection covered many regions and countries across the range of cheeses made with cows, goats and sheep’s milk. The french creamy softer cheese Reblochon reminded us of our ski trip earlier this year in Les Deux Alpes, where this cheese is produced in the Haute Savoie mountains and we enjoyed plenty of it at our chalet table with a glass or two of vino.

The other half’s third or was it fourth plate!

Anantara’s hotel at the Eastern Mangroves is a sanctuary set on the waterfront alongside the lush mangroves reserve, a showcase of Arabian design meets modern architecture, which opened last year.

The problem, I have discovered, with cheese and wine (sorry grape) nights is that you over indulge and then have to suffer a dairy and alcohol induced coma once you can actually drop off………. lets just say I didn’t make it to Pilates this morning and thank goodness it was a squats rest day!