“Friday brunch is long and leisurely, with organic greens, barbecued seafood, fresh lobster and more.” Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara
Ingredients, the elegant and spacious ground floor all-day dining restaurant, located at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara is home to the hotel’s weekly Friday feast, The Big Brunch. With an emphasis on Asian flavours, the lively Friday Big Brunch is a showcase of international flavours presented in the restaurant’s open kitchens with free-flowing premium beverages and live entertainment.
We visited on the weekend of the Halloween Salsa extravaganza, a themed spook-tacular display with plenty of attention to detail accompanied by salsa beats from DJ Crazy Joe who certainly got the party started. As the Big Brunch is a family-friendly event there’s a children corner and entertainment including face painting and games.
Fresh seafood including oysters, organic salads and mezze, Asian street food favourites such as Peking duck and ramen are offered alongside a tex-mex stall with tacos and quesadillas made to order with fresh salsa and guacamole. The sushi counter had an extensive choice of all kinds of fresh maki, nigiri and sashimi showcased in wooden boats.
Spicy prawn soup Tom Yum Goong was a favourite on our table along with the steaks, various skewers, prawns and lobsters barbecued on the charcoal grill. Vegetarian choices included an Italian risotto prepared in a wheel of cheese, pizzas, hot and cold vegetables from the large buffet selection, fresh breads and a range of international cheeses.
The Halloween theme was strong with each area decorated with hand carved pumpkins, squashes, scary fish and coloured peppers with sculpted faces. The desserts were impressive, plentiful and tasty with a range of large and miniature classics including a very gooey warm chocolate cake, fresh fruit, a chocolate fountain, ice-cream and a whole display of different flavoured handmade nougat and turkish delight.
My favourite part was the limitless supply of sweets and chocolate with childhood favourites of sweet and sour sugary jellies displayed in martini glasses, plates of truffles and soft centres and colourful mini macaroons. It was all so tempting and was exactly like being a kid in a sweetshop without a parent to stop you over-indulging.
Friday Brunch season is well and truly upon us so it maybe time to bust out those loose fitting clothes again. Enhance your weekend with The Big Brunch experience and enjoy the varied assortment of cuisines on offer. Ingredients is a large restaurant that can accommodate both families and those groups of friends looking for a more lively affair. Diners can choose to sit indoors or outside on the shaded terrace overlooking the mangroves and enjoy the free-flow drinks, party tunes and salsa dancing.
The Big Brunch
Location: Ingredients, Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara, Abu Dhabi
Telephone: 02 656 1000
Website: www.anantara.com/en/eastern-mangroves-abu-dhabi
Time: 12:30pm – 4:00pm
Cost: AED 276 including soft drinks, AED 389 including house beverages, AED 489 including Prosecco and AED 602 including champagne.
I was invited to attend all the Halloween Salsa Brunch. All views are all my own. Unless otherwise stated all photos © Jo Brett 2018. All rights reserved.