“Pintxos; a traditional Spanish snack of bite-size gems created by Senén González, where innovation is combined with the flavours of long-held traditions.” Sagartoki Restaurant
Spanish tapas and vibrant art are the focus of the latest Masters of Food & Wine series happening at the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas located on Saadiyat Island. The stylish Beach House restaurant is the chosen venue for the exploration into Spanish cuisine with renowned Spanish Chef Senén González. Renowned for his tapas specialties, González (an enthusiastic chef who speaks very little English) is showcasing his unique style of cooking in this, his first visit to the capital.
A bite size menu of five and ten tapas dishes will be on offer for lunch and dinner throughout the event which concludes on Tuesday 11th April. An exclusive chef’s table is also available where Chef González will offer an interactive and educational bespoke experience that showcases his sapid and innovative Spanish Tapas.
González, owner and chef of twice named Best Spanish Pintxos Bar Sagartoki Restaurant in Northern Spain, has won awards his Spanish tortilla. He has combined forces with Park Hyatt’s Executive Head Chef Ivan Musoni to create this exclusive event in Abu Dhabi. The dishes are not only flavoursome but a work of art in themselves, classic miniature Spanish tapas reinvented and designed to evoke all the senses.
Tiny bites of Spanish olives with anchovies started our experience followed by colourful mediterranean sushi made with vegetable sheets, a fried egg and potato pintxo (dehydrated potato wrapped around a small hen’s egg) designed to be eaten in one bite. Traditional patatas bravas has been reimagined as potato crisp tubes decorated with a spicy tomato sauce and aioli. The most delicious light and fluffy Senén potato tortilla garnished with shaved truffle was my favourite dish, there were also three varieties of croquetas; mushroom, parmesan and tomato and blue cheese with walnut.
Other notable savoury offerings included bread toasted with Cantabrian anchovies and piquillo peppers, a visually appealing cod tempura and for vegetarians, artichoke tempura with pistachio cream wrapped in beetroot and topped with a dusting of cocoa powder. Delicious desserts of caramelised cream and citrus cake with ice cream were the perfect end to our Spanish culinary journey.
This event is not just about the tapas but also showcases the creative talents of Australian artist Des Spencer. Bold and brightly coloured canvases are Spencer’s trademark, artworks that features subject matter such as mechanic camels, marine life, cityscapes, floral and abstracts, a cross-section of which are currently on display at the hotel. Live painting and interactive art sessions will be offered by Spencer throughout the duration of this Masters of Food & Wine series.
The stunning Beach House, a multi award winning restaurant, serves traditional family style Mediterranean cuisine and a great selection of wines and cocktails. This beachside spot is one of the best locations in Abu Dhabi for alfresco dining with its stunning panorama, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner this restaurant offers mediterranean cuisine, a dedicated kids menu as well as a new daily breakfast menu. In the evening the Beach House rooftop offers cocktails, bar bites and relaxing lounge-style music, go in time for sundowners would be my advice.
The Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine is a series of sophisticated culinary and beverage experiences hosted at Hyatt locations across the world. These interactive events give guests, residents and visiting gourmands the opportunity to connect and share their produce, expertise and knowledge. If you enjoy tasty Spanish tapas this latest Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Master of Food and Wine event at The Beach House is a must-do. Designed to educate and showcase the hotel as the Food and Beverage hub of the Capital they provide an exclusive way to dive into the culinary world’s best-kept secrets.
Masters of Food & Wine Series
Location: Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi.
Telephone: 02 407 1234
Website: www.abudhabi.park.hyatt.com
Cost: Five Bites for AED 250* and Ten Bites for AED 450* (available until 11th April)
(*excludes 10% service charge, 6% tourism fee and 4% municipality fee)
Read more about the last Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine Event in my previous post Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine | Weiss Chocolate
Read more about the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas in previous posts Park Hyatt Pampering, Talking Turtles and Conservation with Arabella Willing and My Top Five Places for Sunset Drinks in Abu Dhabi
I was invited to this event. All views are my own based on my experience. Unless otherwise stated, all photos on this page © Jo Brett 2017. All rights reserved. Additional photos used courtesy of www.abudhabi.park.hyatt.com