Chef Raffaele relives Ibn Battuta’s journey through Mediterranean Europe with Italian sundried fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs and succulent seafood…
Chef Raffaele pays homage to authentic Sicilian cooking in the UAE inspired by both family cooking when he was young and traditional Italian culinary ventures.
After a 2 year assignment in Anantara Abu Dhabi, Chef Raffaele marks his recent arrival at Dubai’s Ibn Battuta in spectacular fashion by creating two brand new menus – one aimed at busy executives who have limited time for a wholesome lunch and a second more extensive and relaxed dinner menu for families and couples enjoying an evening out.
At just AED80, the new business lunch menu is proving to be extremely popular, especially with in-house guests and executives working in the local Ibn Battuta Gate offices and Jebal Ali offices.
Chef Raffaele said: “Italians know their food, they’re blessed with some of the world’s best produce and they know how to cook it with respect. My new two-course lunch menu comes packed with flavor from the freshest ingredients and all served within one hour .”
Indeed Chef Raffaele lives by his word. KM got to try the business lunch and it tastes nothing like the standard commercial Italian food you find in many restaurants…Our personal favourite was the Beef Carpaccio served with Parmesan shavings and fresh herbs. It tasted just like the Godmother of steaks!
The Risotto was another favorite as it had different spices. Mixed with generous amounts of Parmesan shavings and pumpkin seeds, the entire dish tasted like a burst of different exotic flavours.
The Spicy Dark Chocolate mousse which was served as a dessert tasted dramatic and rich. It had a wholesome cocoa flavor with soft orange essence and paprika spice.
Overall, the dining experience was wonderful and comprehensive. It felt like you’re part of Italian surrealist Giuseppe Tornatore’s movie enriched with divine sofa lounges and a dramatic sun beaming through the restaurant interiors, an experience never to be forgotten.
Our Verdict: Great setting for traditional Italian food lovers. We highly recommend it.
P.S. On our way to the exit, the generous chef gave us a gift of an Italian style raisin cake and its written recipe… It truly added a touch to the whole experience.
Sicilia is located in Movenpick Ibn Battuta Mall on Sheikh Zayed Road… For booking, contact 04 444 5613
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