At this international hotspot, you’ll witness a beautifully balanced combination of three common flavours: sweet, sour and spicy.
Walking through the DIFC at night is inspirational, passing by the art galleries, various other clubs and restaurants. The choice is wide. My target was Caramel. I passed by Caramel just to book for lunch the next day, but as I walked in I was tempted to stay for a few drinks. Slink, beautiful are, but a few words to describe the crowd at Caramel. The mood and ambiance can be described as festive: People chatting, drinking, standing at the bar, while others are having dinner. Dim lights, high and round tables, comfortable chairs, and natural wood only invite you to enjoy an evening at one of Dubai’s hippest places. Caramel with its large terrace and nine private cabanas with the view of Dubai’s beautiful skylines make it a place to be and be seen. The next day for lunch, I was excited to check the same place out during the day. I was curious to check out the details as well as try the food many are talking about. A touch of Las Vegas’ glamour, Caramel boasts a menu that’s rich with mouthwatering items. The menu is so varied and at the same time so simple. It’s devised into petite plates, salads, grand plates and sides.
People around town recommend the Mac & Cheese or their signature Chicken Lollipops for starters. I also found the same recommendations on Foursquare. For salads, the Chinese Chicken salad is a must. The table next to us was expressing how awesomely yummy the fries are. I had to order them, extremely tasty with a touch of herbs. I liked their sparkling water, TAU. This detail may be unimportant for some but as almost all restaurants serve San Pelligrino, drinking new fresh tasty water was a plus for me. For starters, my friend and I finally agreed to order the Caramel Veggie Rolls and Lobster and Grilled Mango Tacos to start with then, the Chinese Chicken Salad to follow, and as a main platter, we ordered the Steak and Fries and Petite Kobe Sliders.
Chinese Chicken Salad: It was a challenge between us at the table to find out all the details and try to and figure out all the ingredients, but no one could. Some said the salad includes carrots while others mentioned cucumbers, but the fact is, the amazing taste comes from the combination of cashew nuts, lettuce, honey mustard dressing, chicken, with slices of Clementine and Soya shoots.
Lobster and Grilled Mango Tacos: Four separate chilled taco pieces in a stainless stand with avocado cream topped with fresh coriander. What an impressive idea. Crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, the mixture is magical.
Caramel Veggie Roll: What an invention. Sweet as the name suggests, wrapped with sesame seeds. A simple dish with four blocks of vegetables inside seaweed paper: cucumber, mango, carrots and avocado. The best thing about the food around here is that it’s special, and incomparable to any other restaurant in the region. The ingredients mixed together are chosen so delicately creating a sensational mouth watering experience.
Petite Kobe Sliders: I could eat this three times a day for a whole week. Small mini burgers with a thick piece of medium juicy meat, pickles, tomatoes, dried onions and cheese. All I can say is Mmm. You must understand that it is so impressively tasty that I am out of words to best describe the taste. The steak and cheese, is also presented in a special way.
A Worcestershire steak, smaller in width but longer and thicker than the normal steaks, cut into small sashimi bites, topped with small piece of butter. Simple and served with fries.
I also had the chance to enjoy tasty creamy spinach for the first time in my life! I say had the chance because normally this dish is prepared with garlic and I am allergic to garlic. At Caramel it is prepared without garlic. Outstanding taste. Wow! What an experience. I couldn’t resist one more piece of Kobe burger.
And now comes desert time. A choice between Spiced Apple Cobbler, Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée, Sorbet, Key Lime Pie, Dark Chocolate Fondant or Baked Alaska. Extremely hard choice to make. Although I am sure that the fondant is a must try, but I’ll go with the Apple Cobbler and Crème Brûlée. A full stomach with soothing music in the background… Heavenly! See you there! Again and again.
