Great things happen when two talented people driven by passion come together.
Such was my experience when I visited the Al Areen Palace and Spa by Accor last weekend to experience the Four Hands Dinner at Momento, an Italian restaurant which has been dishing out delicious bites to much acclaim since its opening in June.
The dinner was a collaboration between two star chefs – Chef Giuseppe D’Alessio, a visiting culinary celebrity from Italy, and the restaurant’s Executive Chef Sumeet Kurmi.
“The Four Hands Dinner is all about two chefs working on a menu together and I was very happy to learn that Chef D’Alessio and I have the same philosophy, which is to keep the originality of the ingredients by making sure that the flavours are not overpowering,” Chef Kurmi told the GDN.
I started my meal with an appetiser of artichoke and cream that was served with an assortment of freshly-baked bread and some fruity olive oil.
I’m always surprised by how much artichoke does not taste like a vegetable in the traditional sense; its nuttiness paired with the cream was simply divine and I could not help but savour each bite.
Next came the best wild mushroom risotto that I have ever tasted.
There was a clear waft of Parmigiano Reggiano as the plate was placed in front of me; it was one of those dishes that you delight in the smell of before you sample.
The rice was perfectly al dente – creamy and cheesy from the parmesan and bursting with flavour from the mushrooms.
There were two options for the main course and I chose to go with the USDA prime beef tenderloin, the other choice being a seafood option sourced directly from Sicily and served on roasted and crushed tomatoes.
My steak came medium-rare with fontina cheese potatoes and truffle sauce.
There was so much to love about this dish – the perfectly-cooked meat, the sinful mashed potatoes, which I learnt was 50 per cent butter and 50 per cent potatoes and, last but not the least, the umami-rich truffle sauce.
There was no skimping on the truffles either and I thoroughly enjoyed the shaved truffle which formed a small pile next to my steak and potatoes.
Then it was time for dessert and, placed in front of me, was a dish named tiramisu, but looking nothing like the ordinary offering.
First of all, this non-traditional tiramisu stood up all by itself, supported by a delicate caramelised tuille on either side.
And, secondly, it came with the most creamy, espresso-rich homemade ice cream surrounded by powdered coffee.
This iteration of the classic desert was definitely an eye opener and I will be dreaming about it for days to come.
As the evening came to a close, I reflected on the amount of care that had gone into each course and how each ingredient was able to shine on the plate, a truly enjoyable experience.
The Four Hands Dinner at Momento is part of the Italian Week celebrations at Al Areen.
It costs BD25 net with soft drinks or BD32 net with bubbles pairing and is available on Wednesday.
For more information, call 17845000 or 36057494 or email reservations.alareen@accor.com.
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